Pakistan should urge Saudi Arabia to reconsider Umrah visa fees: TAA

KARACHI: Pakistan should contact the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and urge to reconsider the exponential increase in Umrah fees.

The call was made by the Travel Agents Associations of Pakistan, who appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to request Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdul Aziz to reconsider the new Umrah visa fees policy.

They said that both countries enjoy brotherly and fraternal relations, but the rise in Umrah fees can deprive many people of the sacred pilgrimage.

According to the new visa policy, the Saudi government will bear the cost and provide free visa for first time Umrah pilgrims. However, the visa fees for the subsequent Umrah will be 2000 Saudi riyals.