Pakistan, scared of international humiliation, put 4300 beggars on no-fly list.
The whole world is troubled by the beggars of Pakistan, and many countries including Saudi Arabia have repeatedly complained about this to the Pakistan government. As a result, Pakistan has put 4300 beggars in the exit control list. This means that these people will no longer be able to travel by air outside Pakistan.
According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi has informed Saudi Arabia's Deputy Interior Minister Nasser bin Abdul Aziz-al-Dawood about the action taken against the 'mafia' that allegedly sends beggars to Saudi Arabia.
Big decision after Saudi's uproar
The Pakistan government has taken this step after receiving a stern warning from Saudi Arabia. In September, Saudi Arabia had expressed concern about Pakistani beggars. The Saudi administration had asked the Pakistan government to stop beggars from coming to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina and begging in the name of Hajj and Umrah visas.
According to media reports, several countries in West Asia, including Saudi Arabia, had warned Pakistan of strict action if the 'export' of beggars was not stopped. In September, Saudi Arabian officials had mentioned the increasing number of beggars visiting holy cities in the Kingdom on the pretext of religious pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia is troubled by Pakistani beggars
This was not the first time Saudi Arabia had raised this issue. Last year too, the Kingdom had expressed concern about this during Hajj. After this, in May, Saudi Arabia had issued a fatwa to stop those coming for Hajj without adequate approval. Under this, violators were deported and fined 10 thousand riyals (2.22 lakh rupees).
Pakistan government took strict steps
Earlier this year, Pakistan had rejected the passports of two thousand people. The Pakistan government had identified these people as professional beggars who were spoiling the country's image by going abroad. According to sources, if any Pakistani citizen is seen begging abroad, his passport will be suspended for 7 years.
Pakistani officials argue that such steps are necessary to maintain the country's reputation and the dignity of its citizens. Pakistan's interior ministry has said in its statement that a zero tolerance policy is being adopted to stop the practice of going to Saudi Arabia and begging.
How big is the problem of 'Pakistani beggars'?
It has become common to see Pakistani beggars in Saudi Arabian cities, especially Mecca, Medina and Jeddah. The increasing number of beggars in these holy cities is creating a big problem. In view of the rising inflation and deteriorating economy in Pakistan, many Pakistanis go to Western Asian countries, especially Saudi and UAE, under the guise of religious pilgrimage and start begging there.
In September last year, Pakistan's Secretary of Overseas Zeeshan Khanzada had said that about 90 percent of the beggars caught in West Asian countries were Pakistanis. Khanzada had said that the ambassadors of Iraq and Saudi Arabia have told that Pakistani beggars go abroad in the guise of pilgrimage and then start begging on the streets.