Saudi Arabia has expressed concerns over the increasing number of Pakistani beggars entering the Kingdom under the guise of religious pilgrimage, according to a media report on Tuesday. The Saudi authorities have requested Islamabad to take measures to prevent these individuals from entering the country, warning that failure to control the situation could adversely affect Pakistani Umrah and Hajj pilgrims , as reported by the Express Tribune newspaper, citing sources from Pakistan 's Ministry of Religious Affairs .
In response to the warning issued by the Saudi ministry of Hajj , Pakistan's ministry of religious affairs has decided to introduce an "Umrah Act" to regulate travel agencies facilitating Umrah trips and bring them under legal oversight. The ministry has also requested the Pakistani government to devise strategies to prevent beggars from travelling to Saudi Arabia under the guise of religious pilgrimage.
During a meeting with Saudi ambassador Nawaf bin Said Ahmed Al-Malki, interior minister Mohsin Naqvi assured him that strict measures would be implemented against the mafia responsible for sending beggars to Saudi Arabia. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been tasked with cracking down on this network, which Mohsin said is damaging Pakistan's image.
According to Zeeshan Khanzada, secretary overseas Pakistanis , Pakistani beggars travel to the Middle East under the guise of ziarat (pilgrimage), with most people visiting Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas and then engaging in begging-related activities.
Arshad Mahmood, secretary of overseas Pakistanis, highlighted that several Gulf countries have raised concerns regarding the behaviour of overseas Pakistanis, particularly in areas of work ethics, attitudes, and involvement in criminal activities.
The ministry of overseas Pakistanis and human resource development has reported that a staggering 90 per cent of beggars apprehended in foreign countries are Pakistani nationals.
In recent incidents, FIA offloaded 11 alleged beggars from a Saudi Arabia-bound flight at Karachi airport, and in September last year, 16 beggars disguised as pilgrims were arrested for trying to travel to the Gulf Kingdom to indulge in begging. Khanzada also mentioned that a majority of the pickpockets arrested from within Mecca's grand mosque are Pakistani nationals.
In response to the warning issued by the Saudi ministry of Hajj , Pakistan's ministry of religious affairs has decided to introduce an "Umrah Act" to regulate travel agencies facilitating Umrah trips and bring them under legal oversight. The ministry has also requested the Pakistani government to devise strategies to prevent beggars from travelling to Saudi Arabia under the guise of religious pilgrimage.
During a meeting with Saudi ambassador Nawaf bin Said Ahmed Al-Malki, interior minister Mohsin Naqvi assured him that strict measures would be implemented against the mafia responsible for sending beggars to Saudi Arabia. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been tasked with cracking down on this network, which Mohsin said is damaging Pakistan's image.
According to Zeeshan Khanzada, secretary overseas Pakistanis , Pakistani beggars travel to the Middle East under the guise of ziarat (pilgrimage), with most people visiting Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas and then engaging in begging-related activities.
Arshad Mahmood, secretary of overseas Pakistanis, highlighted that several Gulf countries have raised concerns regarding the behaviour of overseas Pakistanis, particularly in areas of work ethics, attitudes, and involvement in criminal activities.
The ministry of overseas Pakistanis and human resource development has reported that a staggering 90 per cent of beggars apprehended in foreign countries are Pakistani nationals.
In recent incidents, FIA offloaded 11 alleged beggars from a Saudi Arabia-bound flight at Karachi airport, and in September last year, 16 beggars disguised as pilgrims were arrested for trying to travel to the Gulf Kingdom to indulge in begging. Khanzada also mentioned that a majority of the pickpockets arrested from within Mecca's grand mosque are Pakistani nationals.
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