पाकिस्तानी भिखारियों से सऊदी अरब परेशान: शहबाज सरकार से इन पर रोक लगाने को कहा; उमराह वीजा की आड़ में भीख मांगने जा रहे लोग

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.

Pakistani beggars travel to Gulf countries under the guise of Umrah. They settle in rich countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Government will bring Umrah Act, strict action will be taken against travel agencies According to the report, to stop beggars from being sent to Saudi, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has decided to bring the ‘Umrah Act’. Its purpose is to regulate 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. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has now been given the responsibility to crack down on this.

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 found that their purpose was to go there and beg.

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

People arrested at Lahore airport in October 2023. They were going to Saudi Arabia on a religious pilgrimage. Their purpose was to go there and 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 allocating 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 across the world are of Pakistani origin According to a September 2023 report by Pakistani website Dawn, 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 by Dawn, UAE authorities also avoid giving visas 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.