Issuing a strong warning to Islamabad, Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry has stated that strict penalties will be imposed on Pakistani citizens found violating Haj permit regulations this year. The Saudi ministry’s latest warning further stated that penalties will be applicable till June 10, 2025. The ministry warned that any Pakistani performing or attempting to perform Hajj without a valid permit will face a fine of up to 20,000 Saudi Riyals. The penalty includes all types of visa holders, including those entering and staying in Mecca.
The warning came at a time when Pakistan formally commenced its Haj flight operations yesterday with the first batch of 442 pilgrims departing from Islamabad to Madina under the Makkah Route Initiative.
Saudi Arabia’s strict warning to Pakistan is a result of an alarming number of beggars, illegal visitors, and citizens travelling for Hajj without permits, every year. The Kingdom has deported at least 4,700 Pakistani beggars in the past three years, urging Islamabad to put the names and passports of these deported individuals on its no-fly list.
