In a recent development, authorities at Multan Airport in Punjab province took action to prevent 16 individuals from Pakistan, disguised as pilgrims, from boarding a flight destined for Saudi Arabia. The suspects were apprehended for attempting to enter the Gulf Kingdom with the intent to engage in begging activities.
These individuals, consisting of 11 women, four men, and one child, were initially traveling on Umrah visas, which are typically associated with Islamic pilgrimages to Mecca, allowed throughout the year.
Upon further investigation, the passengers revealed during the immigration process that their primary motive for traveling to Saudi Arabia was to seek alms through begging. Additionally, they disclosed that a portion of their earnings from begging would be surrendered to the agents responsible for facilitating their travel.
These arrests come shortly after revelations made by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development to the Senate Committee on Overseas Pakistanis. During a Senate standing committee meeting held last month, Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis Zeeshan Khanzada emphasized that a considerable number of beggars from Pakistan were being illicitly trafficked abroad. He noted that many beggars travel to the Middle East under the guise of religious pilgrimages, such as Umrah, and subsequently engage in begging activities, leading to overcrowded jails in destination countries, including Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges related to beggar trafficking and underscores the need for concerted efforts to address this issue comprehensively.
