Pakistan has faced international embarrassment over beggars. Middle Eastern countries are constantly complaining about beggars coming from Pakistan, in view of which the authorities have now started vigilantly checking Pakistanis going to the Middle East.
A senior official of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told Pakistani newspaper ‘Dawn’ that steps are being taken to stop the trend of begging abroad. He said that immigration staff at the airport have deboarded many passengers from flights in the last few months.
He said that the beggars come in the guise of tourists to go to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran, Oman and Turkey.
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Pakistani officials have also expressed concern over the increasing number of Pakistani beggars abroad. A top official told the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis that 90 percent of the beggars arrested abroad were of Pakistani origin.
44,000 passengers were deboarded from flights on suspicion of being beggars
In another meeting of the committee earlier this year, the Home Ministry claimed that 44,000 passengers suspected of begging abroad were deboarded and prevented from travelling to Middle Eastern countries.
FIA sources said that the beggars’ ‘gangs’ operated mainly from South Punjab districts, and they travelled abroad via the Multan airport disguised as religious tourists.
FIA Gujranwala Region Director Qadir Qamar also said that now the airport staff is strictly checking the travel documents and passengers with fake or suspicious documents are not being allowed to go abroad.
UAE is not even giving visa to such Pakistanis
According to travel agents, UAE authorities have also started denying visas to Pakistanis who do not have enough money in their bank accounts to stay in the UAE.
While on one hand Pakistani officials have claimed action on their part, on the other hand they have also asked the Middle Eastern and Gulf countries to tighten their visa systems.
A senior FIA official said these countries should also look at their own visa processing systems instead of putting pressure on Pakistani authorities to stop potential beggars, criminals and illegal immigrants.
Giving an example, the official said that most western countries ask for bank statements, property and tax documents along with the visa application to ensure that the traveller has sufficient resources to live on his own in the respective country.
He said staff at airports now frequently ask passengers travelling to the Middle East about their profession, business and bank accounts to find out the purpose of their travel. If a passenger is suspected, he is deboarded from the plane.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)