Pakistan among nine countries denied entry to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, claims Minister

Pakistan Federal Religious Affairs Minister or ul Haq Qri has claimed that country is still one of nine countries devotees from where have been barred from entering Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for Umrah pilgrim. minister on ARY News show "Bakhabar Savera" said that nine Pakistani pilgrims from nine states were denied entrance. He claimed that country is still one of nine nations t permitted unconditionally to enter Kingdom. 

Earlier on August 9, Saudi Arabia began accepting applications from pilgrims to enter region of Umrah, with one requirement that y have to be vaccinated against coronavirus illness (COVID-19). Umrah is a holy place just like Mecca, where people devotees can go and perform ir rituals at any time of year. 

Umrah application guidelines

Saudi Arabia has provisionally permitted visitors who have received two doses of Chinese vaccinations such as Sivac and Sipharm and receive a booster shot from one of four authorised vaccines, such as Oxford/Astra Zeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson and Johnson. 

As per ANI, "All visitors arriving in country with a valid tourism visa must provide evidence of a full course of one four vaccines currently recognized: two doses of Oxford/Astra Zeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or a single dose of vaccine produced by Johnson and Johnson," guideline stated, ARY News reported. 

According to Geo News, who cited country's media, individuals who have obtained coronavirus vaccinations will only be permitted to visit holy mosques starting on 1st of Raman. 

Even Kingdom's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that only those devotees who have been properly vaccinated with coronavirus vaccine would be permitted to enter Al-Masjid an-Nabawi ( Prophet's Mosque) and Masjid al-Haram ( Great Mosque). Saudi Arabian e-visa portal released recommendations for travellers after resuming entrance of vaccinated overseas tourists on August 1. 

Saudi Arabia decided to raise number of Umrah pilgrims progressively. y want to make number from 60,000 per month, which is w, to 2 million per month. Due to coronavirus pandemic, Saudi hosted pilgrims for annual Hajj pilgrim in July with a limited number of pilgrims.   

Meanwhile, National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Tuesday that Pakistan ded 3,884 new coronavirus cases to its total count of infections on Monday. While today, number of new cases has gone to 4856.   

According to NCOC, which is in charge of Pakistan's pandemic response, country's total cases have risen to 1,075,504, with 967,073 recoveries. number of active cases has been increased to 84,427, with 4,530 people in serious condition. 

Im Credit: AP