Pakistan Embassy Warns Pilgrims Against Begging in Saudi Arabia

Pakistan has warned its citizens travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah against begging, unauthorised fundraising and violating visa conditions, cautioning that those involved could face arrest, detention and deportation.

The warning was issued on Sunday, 16 August, by the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia for pilgrims and other Pakistani nationals travelling to the kingdom for religious purposes.

The embassy also released an artificial intelligence-generated video on social media as part of its awareness campaign. The video carries a message directed at Pakistani Umrah pilgrims and workers and depicts an individual being arrested by Saudi authorities and taken to prison after violating local laws.

The embassy said Saudi authorities have adopted a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach towards begging and unauthorised collection of money in and around the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Pakistani nationals have therefore been urged to avoid providing or using any unauthorised local services.

Where financial assistance or fundraising is genuinely required, the embassy said, it must be carried out through lawful and authorised channels. The warning is intended to ensure that religious visits are not used as a means of engaging in activities prohibited under Saudi law.

Visa rules also under scrutiny

The embassy has also stressed the need to comply fully with the conditions attached to Saudi visas.

Pakistani visitors have been instructed not to remain in the country after their visas expire and not to undertake activities that fall outside the permissions of the visa they hold. Violations can expose individuals to legal and administrative action by Saudi authorities.

The renewed warning comes against the backdrop of longstanding concerns over Pakistani nationals becoming involved in begging in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. Pakistan has previously introduced measures aimed at preventing such incidents, including obtaining undertakings from some prospective Hajj pilgrims that they would not engage in begging during their stay.

Despite such measures, allegations of Pakistani citizens becoming involved in begging in Saudi Arabia have continued to emerge.

Saudi authorities have previously raised concerns with Pakistan over the issue. Reports cited by Pakistani authorities have also pointed to the involvement of organised networks that allegedly exploit financially vulnerable people by arranging visas and air tickets for Hajj or Umrah and sending them to Saudi Arabia to beg.

According to allegations investigated by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, some of these networks take a share of the money earned through begging. The authorities have taken action against suspected members of such networks, with several thousand individuals reportedly placed on a stop-list restricting their ability to leave Pakistan.

Concern over impact on genuine pilgrims

The issue has broader implications for Pakistani pilgrims who travel to Saudi Arabia legitimately to perform religious obligations. The actions of individuals involved in illegal activities can lead to tighter scrutiny and create difficulties for others travelling under valid visas.

Saudi Arabia enforces strict regulations governing conduct around the holy sites, particularly during periods of high religious activity when large numbers of pilgrims gather in Makkah and Madinah. Begging, unauthorised fundraising and breaches of immigration rules can therefore carry serious consequences for foreign visitors.

Pakistan’s latest embassy warning seeks to reinforce a straightforward message: pilgrims should respect Saudi laws, comply with the terms of their visas and avoid any form of unauthorised money collection.

For those travelling to perform Hajj or Umrah, the embassy’s advice is also a reminder that religious intent does not exempt visitors from local laws. Any financial assistance or charitable activity must be undertaken through lawful channels, while visitors are expected to leave the country within the period permitted by their visas.

The Pakistani authorities appear keen to prevent individual cases from becoming a wider diplomatic or administrative problem, particularly for the large number of citizens who travel to Saudi Arabia each year for legitimate religious purposes.