The Federal Research Agency (FIA) has confirmed the deportation of 10 suspects of Saudi Arabia, who had traveled to the kingdom with Umrah visas, but was discovered that he was begging.
Pakistan is concerned that such individuals, who participate in begging abroad, are negatively affecting the experience of legitimate pilgrims who travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah or Hajj.
The reports suggest that Riad has raised the problem with Islamabad several times during the last year. In November 2023, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that a national “effective repression” was underway against Pakistani who used Umrah or Hajj visas to beg in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement on Sunday, the FIA reported that, in an important operation at the Karachi airport, 10 people suspected of begging under the appearance of going for Umrah were arrested.
The suspects, of several districts, including Rajanpur, Naushahro Feroze, Kashmore, Lahore, Peshawar, Mohmand and Larkana, were arrested after returning from Saudi Arabia.
Preliminary investigations revealed that these individuals had been begging in Saudi Arabia for several months. They were transferred to the Karachi antihuman traffic circle to obtain additional action.
The FIA emphasized that it is closely monitoring immigration activities in airports. Passengers who travel abroad are being thoroughly verified, and legal measures are being taken against those involved in begging.
The Pakistani form the second largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, with around 2.5 million Pakistanis living there. They are also the largest source of remittances for Pakistan.
