RIYADH: In a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, officials revealed that Saudi Arabia has cut down the number of visas issued to Pakistanis.
The officials explained that many Pakistanis were caught begging in Saudi Arabia, which led to stricter documentation requirements for visa approval.
Committee members expressed concern over the damage to Pakistan’s reputation and questioned how these issues could be prevented. In response, officials said show-cause notices have been issued to responsible officers.
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However, committee members demanded that these officers be not only questioned but also dismissed from their jobs. Officials further added that some Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah but overstay their visas and fail to return on time.
FIA representatives shared data showing that since 2023, around 52,000 Pakistanis have been deported from Saudi Arabia, including 5,000 beggars over the past two years.
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