JEDDAH, 8 November — A committee has been set up to inquire into the charges against some foreign agents of Umrah service companies that they illegally sell Umrah visas issued free of cost from Saudi missions.
The committee comprises representatives of the ministries of interior, Haj and commerce. The agents allegedly sell Umrah visas to people who aim to overstay and find employment in the Kingdom illegally after the pilgrimage has been completed.
Muhammed Bantan, undersecretary for Umrah affairs at the Haj Ministry, said the committee would investigate and punish the guilty people. The punishments include cancellation of the agency and fining up to SR20,000.
While the visas are being issued free of cost by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Haj Ministry has come across instances of 360 foreign agencies tampering with the visas and selling them to those who intend to enter the Kingdom to seek employment or engage in other illegal activities in the guise of Umrah pilgrims.
Bantan also expressed hope that new arrangements introduced by the ministry in the current Umrah season would finally end the practice of pilgrims sleeping on pavements. The returning Umrah pilgrims will be divided into groups and sent in buses and housed at the Pilgrim City in Jeddah Islamic Port until the moment of their departure, the official said. The arrangements will not give the pilgrims an excuse to seek other shelters or pavements to sleep.
The ministry has also deployed 50 officials at its offices in the port for the speedy processing and movement of pilgrims. Further, the ministry has named 49 inspection teams to guarantee that pilgrim service companies fulfill their contractual obligations to the pilgrims including the provision of lodgings to all pilgrims. These teams will also see that no pilgrim sleeps in the vicinity of the two holy mosques, he said.
