ISLAMABAD: The Saudi government has announced that it will impose a fine of 50,000 rials (approximately Rs1.623 million) and six-month imprisonment on Umrah pilgrims staying beyond their designated schedule.
According to officials of Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Saudi General Directorate of Passport has warned pilgrims to adhere to their travel schedules.
Any pilgrim failing to pay the designated fine will face an additional imprisonment. The Saudi passports division further said those visiting the country on Umrah visas are not allowed to travel outside Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah.
It also warned the citizens and residents against transporting, employing, sheltering or hiding those with expired Umrah visas.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a Pakistani official dealing with the issue said the move has come after a number of pilgrims went missing and failed to return to their countries within the set time.
He said that some aspiring pilgrims begin seeking jobs or get involved in suspicious activities in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, the ministry has sent a warning to private tour operators and directed them to remain vigilant while sending people to perform Umrah.
It said that tour operators will be held responsible for any person going missing while on pilgrimage. License of the operators will be cancelled, beside other strict penal actions if the pilgrims don’t return within the scheduled period.
