Pakistan Consulate issues 400 new passports daily
02:40PM Tue 4 Jun, 2013
[caption id="attachment_35966" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Pakistanis wait outside their consulate in Jeddah. (AN photo by Irfan Mohammed)[/caption]
JEDDAH : Last Update 3 June 2013 2:12 am
Pakistani nationals love living in the vicinity of the holy sites, commented Pakistan Consul General Aftab Ahmed Khoker.
This is the main reason why a significant number of Pakistanis who had come on Umrah or Haj visas are now seeking to regularize their status by making use of the grace period, he added.
Speaking with Arab News, the consul general said the consulate receives on average 300 applications a day from its nationals who entered the Kingdom on Umrah or Haj visas and who wish to regularize their status by finding jobs.
“It is Pakistanis’ affection for Makkah that has them staying here, which is the main factor contributing to Umrah or Haj visitors overstaying. Pilgrims who came after July 2008 have no option but to leave the Kingdom.”
He said the consulate is renewing the passports of all its nationals who had arrived earlier for Umrah or Haj and whose passports have since expired.
Khoker said that the Pakistan Consulate is rendering its full assistance to whoever wishes to return home, though the number of people wishing to be repatriated is not substantial.
He said the consulate is giving priority to women, children and the sick through allotting tokens for the repatriation process.
He said Monday has been allocated for the registration of biometrics by local authorities for Pakistani nationals at the Jeddah deportation center. The Pakistan Consulate has deployed 10 staff members to assist its nationals in recording their biometrics.
He said that up to 400 new passports are being issued every day to Pakistanis who wish to regularize their jobs by transferring to new sponsors before the July 3 deadline. He noted that “the Pakistan Consulate is also receiving cases where sponsors have not provided iqamas for their employees since they arrived in the Kingdom and that those workers can neither travel nor transfer their sponsorships.”
The consul general said that due to time constraints, passports are being issued manually in Jeddah, unlike the Machine Readable Passports (MRP) printed in Islamabad. The consulate is open on Thursdays, he added.
“Due to logistical issues and an increased workload in Jeddah, the Pakistani Consulate is currently not conducting any outstation tours to issue emergency certificates or passports,” he said, adding that they have not moved out of Jeddah since most provinces have not yet begun the exit process.
The consul general said that his diplomatic mission has erected tents around consulate premises to receive applicants. Cold water and fans are also provided on roads leading to the consulate.
He lauded the efforts of young Pakistani volunteers serving their fellow countrymen.
- Arab News
Pakistanis wait outside their consulate in Jeddah. (AN photo by Irfan Mohammed)[/caption]
JEDDAH : Last Update 3 June 2013 2:12 am
Pakistani nationals love living in the vicinity of the holy sites, commented Pakistan Consul General Aftab Ahmed Khoker.
This is the main reason why a significant number of Pakistanis who had come on Umrah or Haj visas are now seeking to regularize their status by making use of the grace period, he added.
Speaking with Arab News, the consul general said the consulate receives on average 300 applications a day from its nationals who entered the Kingdom on Umrah or Haj visas and who wish to regularize their status by finding jobs.
“It is Pakistanis’ affection for Makkah that has them staying here, which is the main factor contributing to Umrah or Haj visitors overstaying. Pilgrims who came after July 2008 have no option but to leave the Kingdom.”
He said the consulate is renewing the passports of all its nationals who had arrived earlier for Umrah or Haj and whose passports have since expired.
Khoker said that the Pakistan Consulate is rendering its full assistance to whoever wishes to return home, though the number of people wishing to be repatriated is not substantial.
He said the consulate is giving priority to women, children and the sick through allotting tokens for the repatriation process.
He said Monday has been allocated for the registration of biometrics by local authorities for Pakistani nationals at the Jeddah deportation center. The Pakistan Consulate has deployed 10 staff members to assist its nationals in recording their biometrics.
He said that up to 400 new passports are being issued every day to Pakistanis who wish to regularize their jobs by transferring to new sponsors before the July 3 deadline. He noted that “the Pakistan Consulate is also receiving cases where sponsors have not provided iqamas for their employees since they arrived in the Kingdom and that those workers can neither travel nor transfer their sponsorships.”
The consul general said that due to time constraints, passports are being issued manually in Jeddah, unlike the Machine Readable Passports (MRP) printed in Islamabad. The consulate is open on Thursdays, he added.
“Due to logistical issues and an increased workload in Jeddah, the Pakistani Consulate is currently not conducting any outstation tours to issue emergency certificates or passports,” he said, adding that they have not moved out of Jeddah since most provinces have not yet begun the exit process.
The consul general said that his diplomatic mission has erected tents around consulate premises to receive applicants. Cold water and fans are also provided on roads leading to the consulate.
He lauded the efforts of young Pakistani volunteers serving their fellow countrymen.
- Arab News
Photos
