By Syed Mussarat Khalil
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Almost a week into the three-month general amnesty announced by the Saudi government, as many as 6,000 undocumented Pakistani nationals living in Jeddah and Madinah have sought assistance from their consulate to take advantage of the scheme, according to a top diplomat from the country.
Shehryar Akbar Khan, Pakistan's consul general in Jeddah, said the consulate has made departure arrangements for almost 5,500 applicants in Jeddah and 500 in Madinah.
The consulate has opened a special desk to provide assistance to amnesty seekers during the grace period when they can leave the Kingdom without incurring any penalties.
Khan said the help desk operates from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. throughout the week, including the weekly holidays.
Arshad Munir, press consul at the Consulate General of Pakistan, has said some 2,000 people have applied for travel passes in Jeddah, which will be delivered to them within five days.
Efforts are being made to further bring down the processing period to a maximum of two days, he said.
Munir said 800 people applied for the extension of their passports, which was done the same day after completing the necessary formalities.
Rest of the people came to ask about the details of the scheme and sought advice from the help desk about their cases.
Munir said a special consular team was deputed by the consular general to visit Madinah from March 31 to April 1. The team held its camp at the Pakistan House and provided assistance to 500 members of the Pakistani community. Of them, 150 applied for travel passes while the rest inquired about the details of the amnesty scheme.
The consulate is planning special consular visits to different areas of the region to provide assistance to the community, Munir told Saudi Gazette.
