JEDDAH, 9 July — Saudi Arabia has imposed a temporary ban on all pilgrims from Pakistan and Syria from performing Umrah because of visa irregularities, a news report said yesterday.
Arabic daily Al-Watan said the Ministry of Haj issued the ban because of widespread "trading in Umrah visas" last year that left around 10,000 pilgrims from the two countries stranded in Saudi Arabia.
According to the ministry, the pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia on false visas and were unable to leave because of financial difficulties. Saudi companies and their agents in Pakistan and Syria will now have to ensure that pilgrims pay all expenses in advance, as well as provide their full names, date of arrival and hotel bookings in Saudi Arabia, as a prerequisite for obtaining a visa.
The ministry was also in contact with officials in Sudan and Yemen to verify reports of similar visa irregularities. A similar ban will be imposed if the reports were found to be true, the daily said. Of the two million Muslims who traveled to Makkah to perform Umrah last year, a large number of them were from Pakistan and Syria. A further two million Muslims, including Saudi nationals, took part in last year’s Haj.
Talking to Arab News Director of Haj in the Consulate General of Pakistan Muhammad Yusuf said: "As far as my information goes there was no such ban on Pakistani Umrah pilgrims from the Saudi authorities. Everyday people are coming from different parts of Pakistan to perform Umrah".
He also said that no such communication was sent to them by the Saudi Ministry of Haj.
Yusuf, however, said that strict rules were being applied by Saudi mission in Pakistan these days during verification before issuing Umrah visa.
As far as the overstay of Umrah pilgrims last year is concerned "it was due to non-availability of seats in PIA and Saudi Arabian Airlines." There was no other reason for their overstay, Yusuf added.
