MAKKAH, 12 February — Brig. Gen. Hasan Reshwan, head of the Passports Department for Haj services, has said that more than 50,000 permits have been issued to expatriate pilgrims of various nationalities Kingdomwide until yesterday.
Today is the last date for the issuance of Haj permits for expatriates, Reshwan added. The general department for Haj and Umrah has opened several checkpoints on roads leading to Makkah to search vehicles to prevent people without Haj permits from sneaking into the holy city. They will be sent back to their homes. Reshwan appealed to the expatriate pilgrims to make sure that the Haj agents with whom they have signed their contracts are licensed.
