FO rejects report of Pakistani nationals being deported from Makkah

ISLAMABAD: The spokesperson of foreign office refuted some social media reports on the arrest and deportation of Pakistani expatriates across the Makkah region.

The FO spokesperson while quoting a statement from the Pakistani envoy said the Consulate General in Jeddah has been in touch with the relevant Saudi officials and they have been informed that usually illegal expatriates are arrested and deported from all nationalities.

It appears a fake campaign on social media had sent shock waves within Pakistan’s community. The rumors that it is a Pakistan specific drive is completely wrong, pointed out in the statement.

It appears that the recent campaign has been started for the last one week focusing mainly on the expatriates without Iqama or expired Iqama, illegal workers, and those working not in their place of Iqama or out of the declared profession.

In this connection, the statement clarified that around 400 Pakistanis have been brought to the Shumaisi Deportation Centre near Makkah for a week.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are in regular contact and the Consulate General of Pakistan is taking all possible steps, within local rules and regulations, to shield the interests of the Pakistani community.

Advising the Pakistani nationals in the Kingdom to remain calm and not to pay attention to the fictitious social media news, the consulate said it was in regular contact with the Saudi officials in the matter.