MAKKAH: Drivers who transport domestic pilgrims without permits to Makkah will face fines of SR10,000 per passenger, a senior Passport Department official said yesterday.
The warning was issued by Gen. Abid bin Abdullah Katib, assistant director general of the Passport Department and commander of the department’s Haj operations.
Katib, who was speaking at a press conference yesterday, added that Haj permits issued by the Directorate General of Passports could not be forged by unscrupulous agents.
“Because of intricate security features, anyone who tries to forge the Haj permit would be immediately caught,” he said, adding that it would be easy for officials to recognize fake permits.
Katib said all major roads leading to Makkah are heavily manned and checkpoints have been set up to prevent illegal pilgrims from entering the holy city.
“Security forces are also patrolling smaller interior roads that smugglers may use to transport domestic pilgrims to Makkah. Transport companies need to realize that they would be stopped and all their passengers checked to ensure they are carrying Haj permits,” said the official.
“Some domestic Haj transport companies, which are not officially registered with the Haj Ministry, violate the law by bringing into Makkah pilgrims who do not have accommodation or Haj services organized,” he said. “Such companies would also be severely punished.”
Katib added that the new measures taken by the Passport Department, which include fingerprinting pilgrims and visitors, have played an important role in decreasing the number of overstayers in the Kingdom.
Thousands of Saudis and expatriates perform Haj every year without obtaining Haj permits and without joining Haj agents. They sleep in public places, especially on pedestrian paths and around the stoning area in Mina, causing innumerable problems for both officials and fellow pilgrims.
