Saudi Flight Offloads 16 Pakistani Beggars, Disguised As Umrah Pilgrims

In a recent incident at Multan airport, 16 Pakistani people who were pretending to be Umrah pilgrims were stopped from boarding a flight to Saudi Arabia. 

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) discovered that these individuals, including 11 women, four men, and a child, had Umrah visas but confessed that their true intention was to go to Saudi Arabia for begging.

During their questioning, they revealed that they were planning to give half of their earnings from begging to the agents who had arranged their travel. 

After the expiry of their Umrah visas, they were supposed to return to Pakistan. The FIA in Multan arrested these individuals for further investigation and legal action.

The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development have recently announced some disclosures to the Senate Committee on Overseas Pakistanis. 

The ministry’s secretary revealed that a significant number of beggars are trafficked abroad through illegal means. 

He noted that a startling 90 percent of beggars arrested in foreign countries are from Pakistan. Both the Iraqi and Saudi ambassadors have reported overcrowded jails due to these arrests.

It’s heartbreaking to hear about these 16 people pretending to be Umrah pilgrims just to go to Saudi Arabia for begging. This shows the dire situation our country is facing. 

The economic crisis has hit our middle-class and poor people so hard that they see no choice but to beg for a living. It’s truly distressing.

We, the common citizens, often feel frustrated with our politicians. They should be working on growing our economy and creating opportunities for our people, but it seems like they’ve always been more focused on other things. It’s no wonder we’re in this situation.

Read More: PML-N’s New Focus: Building Pakistan’s Future, Not Seeking Revenge

Saudi Arabia doesn’t allow begging in their country because they want to maintain a good image. But where will our fellow Pakistanis go now when they are pushed to such desperate measures?

It’s even more disheartening to hear that so many beggars are trafficked abroad illegally, and 90 percent of them are from Pakistan. 

Our reputation is suffering, and our people are suffering. It’s a vicious cycle, and it’s time for our leaders to prioritize the well-being and prosperity of our citizens over everything else.