ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday a sweeping crackdown was underway against a “beggar mafia” accused of exploiting visas to solicit money in Saudi Arabia, a practice officials warn is damaging the country’s image and could affect genuine visa-seekers, including religious pilgrims.
The practice has drawn complaints from Riyadh in the past, prompting the administration in Islamabad to direct the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take measures to curb the trend.
Last year, Pakistan said it had added more than 4,000 individuals accused of abusing visas for begging to a no-fly list.
“Mohsin Naqvi stated that a comprehensive crackdown is being carried out against the mafia involved in begging in Saudi Arabia,” said a statement released after his meeting with the Saudi envoy, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki. “A zero-tolerance policy has been adopted against the beggar mafia.”
During his visit to the Saudi embassy in Islamabad, the minister also praised Riyadh’s role in supporting Pakistan, including during the military standoff with India in May.
“Saudi Arabia has always stood firmly by Pakistan both in times of war or peace, and the relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have withstood every test,” he said.
The statement added the Saudi ambassador also described Pakistan as a “brotherly and friendly country,” adding that Riyadh attached great importance to the relationship.
Pakistanis make up the second-largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, with more than 2.5 million living and working there.
The Kingdom is the top source of remittances for the South Asian nation, whose struggling economy relies heavily on foreign inflows.
