Ibrahim Alawi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — The residency status of a total of 249,669 Burmese nationals living in Makkah and other regions of the Kingdom has been corrected with the issuance of iqamas (residency permits) to them.



Subsequently, the committee in charge of correcting the residency status of Burmese nationals has wound up its two-year long correction campaign.



Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and adviser to Custodian of the Holy Mosques, launched in March 2013 the electronic system for issuing iqamas to Burmese nationals by delivering first iqama to Muhammad Ali Kalamia, a Burmese national.



Speaking on the occasion, he announced that 250,000 Burmese expatriates would be given iqamas free of cost. He disclosed then that these people would be provided with health care, educational facilities and job opportunities.



Accordingly, Burmese nationals living in at least eight cities across the Kingdom arrived at the committee’s center in Kudai to receive iqamas after completing the required formalities and procedures.



Some 192,284 from Makkah received iqamas. Makkah was followed by Jeddah with 43,914 Burmese nationals. Those who corrected their status include 9,622 people from Madinah, 1,354 from Taif, 894 from southern region, 552 from central region, 462 from the Eastern Province, 339 from Qunfudah and 248 from Al-Baha.