Saudi Arabia warns Pakistan against beggars on Umrah visas: reports

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has reportedly issued a strong warning to Pakistan regarding the increasing number of beggars entering the kingdom on Umrah visas.

According to media reports, Pakistani authorities have been asked to implement preventive measures to bar beggars from entering KSA.

The Saudi authorities reportedly warned that if the issue is not effectively controlled, it could have serious repercussions for Pakistani pilgrims performing Umrah and Hajj.

In response to this, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has decided to introduce an "Umrah Act."

This legislative measure will regulate the travel agencies that facilitate Umrah trips, ensuring they operate under strict legal guidelines, according to media reports.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has also called on the Pakistan government to work collaboratively in preventing beggars from traveling to Saudi Arabia under the guise of religious pilgrimage.

These efforts are part of a larger initiative to curb the illegal activities of mafias who exploit the religious pilgrimage system.

Earlier in a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Ahmed Al-Malki, Mohsin assured the Saudi envoy that strict measures would be implemented against the mafia responsible for sending beggars to Saudi Arabia, according to the publication.