Saudi Arabia troubled by Pakistani beggars: Shahbaz asked the government to ban them; people going to beg under the guise of Umrah visa

Saudi Arabia has warned the Shahbaz government about the increasing number of beggars coming from Pakistan. Every year a large number of people from Pakistan go to Saudi Arabia on Umrah visa (pilgrimage visa) and start begging there.

According to Pakistani website The Tribune Express, the Saudi Hajj Ministry has asked the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Pakistan to put a stop to this immediately. The ministry said that if the Pakistan government does not do so, it may affect Pakistani Umrah and Hajj pilgrims.

Government will bring Umrah Act, strict action will be taken against travel agencies According to the report, to stop sending beggars to Saudi, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has decided to bring the ‘Umrah Act’. Its purpose is to regulate the travel agencies that help in getting Umrah visa and bring them under legal supervision.

Earlier on Tuesday, Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Ahmed al-Maliki and Pakistani Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi had met. In this, Naqvi had assured the ambassador that the government would take strict action against the mafias responsible for sending beggars to Saudi Arabia.

According to the report, Home Minister Naqvi believes that such incidents are damaging Pakistan’s image. To curb this, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has now been given the responsibility.

According to the report, last month itself, 11 people were caught at Karachi airport. They were preparing to board a flight to Saudi. During interrogation, it was revealed that their purpose was to go there and beg.

Similarly, in October 2023, 16 people on a flight were deboarded and arrested at Lahore airport. They were also going there to beg.

Saudi Arabia had complained last year too In a meeting of overseas officials in September last year, Saudi Arabia had asked Pakistan to be cautious in giving Hajj quota. Saudi officials had asked Pakistan not to send beggars and pickpockets.

Saudi Arabia had said that their jails are full of such people. Even then Pakistani officials had assured to stop this.

90% of beggars arrested worldwide are of Pakistani origin. According to a report of Pakistani website Dawn in September 2023, 90% of the beggars arrested worldwide are of Pakistani origin. The UAE government is also troubled by the increasing number of these beggars. According to an August report of Dawn, UAE also avoids giving visa to those Pakistanis who do not have enough money in their bank accounts.

In March this year, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the Dubai administration launched a campaign against these beggars. During this, more than 200 people were arrested. Almost half of this population was women.