New travel rules imposed for Umrah pilgrims by Saudi Arabia

The Saudi General Aviation Authority (GACA) has issued new guidelines affecting Umrah travelers, specifically targeting those traveling on visas after 15th Shawwal. According to the new instructions, pilgrims holding Umrah visas post-15th Shawwal will not be allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia, a measure designed to streamline the annual pilgrimage process. A new directive in Saudi Arabia, which took effect immediately, now requires airlines not to issue boarding passes to certain passengers. If airlines or passengers break this rule, they could face legal action under Saudi law. This sudden change has caused confusion and frustration, especially among travelers. More than 60 Umrah pilgrims are currently stranded in Saudi Arabia as a result. One specific flight, SV 700, was supposed to arrive in Karachi yesterday, but the situation worsened when passengers who had already received their boarding passes were offloaded at the last minute due to limited space on the plane. Most of the stranded pilgrims are from the Jafar Khan Leghari area of Sanghar, a place with a strong connection to Umrah pilgrimages. Even though more than 24 hours have passed, there are still no clear arrangements to bring them back home. The delay has caused protests, especially because the group includes elderly women and children, making the situation even more urgent. In response to the growing unrest, the passengers were temporarily relocated to a hotel, where they await further updates. Airport authorities have assured that an alternative flight will be arranged to bring the pilgrims back to Karachi. However, the delay and lack of communication have caused significant distress, with the pilgrims and their families seeking immediate resolution.