Police officials took action by removing these beggars from the Saudi-bound flight in Multan, located in Punjab province, as per a report published in the Dawn newspaper.
The group consisted of 16 individuals, including one child, 11 women, and four men, all traveling on Umrah visas. The Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of the year.
According to officials, during the immigration process, the passengers admitted their intention to travel to Saudi Arabia to seek alms. They also disclosed that they were obliged to give half of their earnings from begging to the agents responsible for arranging their travel.
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These arrests occurred shortly after the ministry of overseas Pakistanis and human resource development revealed to the Senate Committee on Overseas Pakistanis that a significant number of beggars are illicitly trafficked abroad.
“Pakistani beggars often travel to the Middle East under the guise of ‘ziyarat’ (pilgrimage). Many people visit Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas and then engage in begging-related activities,” explained secretary Overseas Pakistanis Zeeshan Khanzada during a Senate standing committee meeting last month.
He added, “both the Iraqi and Saudi ambassadors have reported overcrowded jails due to these arrests.”