Most Pakistanis fly to Saudi to indulge in begging: Official

Islamabad, Sep 28: Pakistani beggars travel to the Middle East under the guise of pilgrimage and indulge in begging-related activities, leading to complaints of prison overcrowding in countries like Saudi Arabia, an official has told lawmakers.
“Pakistani beggars travel to the Middle East under the guise of ziarat (pilgrimage). Most people visit Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas and then indulge in begging-related activities,” Secretary Overseas Pakistanis, Zeeshan Khanzada told a meeting of the Senate’s standing committee for Overseas Pakistanis on Wednesday.
A majority of the pickpockets arrested from within Makkah’s grand mosque are Pakistani nationals, daily The International News quoted Khanzada as saying. Pakistan is facing an unprecedented economic crisis with skyrocketing inflation. (PTI)