Saudi Arabia banned Pakistan from sending beggars
September 25, 20242 Mins Read
International Desk: Pakistanis are getting involved in begging by going to Saudi Arabia in the guise of pilgrims. Saudi Arabia has already identified a large number of Pakistani beggars. Riyadh has given a strong message to Islamabad on the issue.

Pak-Begger

Pakistan's Express Tribune reported that Saudi Arabia has requested Pakistan to take necessary steps to prevent Pakistani beggars from entering Saudi Arabia. The country's government says that if the situation is not controlled, it will have a negative impact on Pakistani Umrah and Hajj pilgrims.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj has alerted Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs and urged them to take steps to prevent Pakistani beggars from entering the country under Umrah visas, Express Tribune quoted the Ministry of Religion as saying.

After receiving a message from the Saudi government, the Ministry of Religion has decided to introduce a new 'Umrah Law', which aims to regulate travel agencies that facilitate Umrah travel and bring them under legal supervision, the Ministry of Religion said.

Meanwhile, the news agency PTI said that there were talks about sending Pakistani beggars to Saudi Arabia before. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had a meeting with Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmed Al-Malki, the Saudi ambassador assigned to Pakistan. In the meeting, the Home Minister said that strict action will be taken against the mafia responsible for sending beggars to Saudi Arabia. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been tasked with taking action against Newark.

Last year Pakistan's then Foreign Secretary Zeeshan Khanzada also admitted the matter. He said Pakistani beggars were traveling to the Middle East under the guise of Umrah. Most people go to Saudi Arabia on Umrah visa and then get involved in begging.

Arshad Mahmood, secretary of Pakistan's Expatriate Welfare Ministry, said last year that several Gulf countries have expressed concern over the treatment of expatriate Pakistanis.

According to the Ministry of Expatriate Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, 90 percent of the beggars detained in different countries are from Pakistan.