Saudi government has started issuing 'E-Visa' to provide maximum facilitation to the intended Umrah pilgrims from Pakistan. According to the circular of Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP), the Saudi consulate general has started issuing 'E-Visa' to the intended pilgrims applied through the licensed Hajj/Umrah operator company to perform Umrah and Hajj. It said E-Visa for Umrah could be verified online and only IATA agents are authorized to place 'OK to board' stamp on the visa, which is a mandatory requirement for Umrah visa.
Furthermore, it said verification and authenticity of visa and other documents was the responsibility of ticket issuing agency and in case of fake visa, deportation charges along with any other penalties imposed by Pakistan or Saudi immigration would be recovered from concerned travel agent. Meanwhile, TAAP secretary general Amanullah Suleman lauded the initiative of e-visa facility that would facilitate Umrah pilgrims at maximum, adding that this service would be fully functional from 29th April.
Needless to mention, the Saudi government during recent days had taken major facilitation measures for Pakistanis including visa fee reduction, allowed immigration of Hujjaj at Islamabad airport for Hajj 2019 and now e-visa facility for Umrah.