Mahmood Hasan

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Consulate General of Pakistan has received 6,000 surrendered passports from the Saudi authorities and has put up a list on its website.



Addressing a press conference at his residence Thursday, Consul General Aftab Ahmed Khokher urged Pakistanis living in the Kingdom with faulty paperwork to make the most of the opportunity provided by the Saudi authorities.



“The authorities are serious and sincere in regularizing as many people as they can under the grace period granted by (Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques) King Abdullah. Make the most of it,” Khokher said.



Regarding the passports the consulate has received, he said, the people concerned can come to the consulate with their relevant IDs and can collect their passports. “In case the passport has expired, they will be issued a new one if they wish to stay in the Kingdom, while those who wish to leave the Kingdom will be issued an out-pass,” Khokher said.



The consul general cautioned the illegal residents to heed the call, saying the Saudi government is very serious about it. “The facilities provided by the government are beneficial for all those residing in the Kingdom illegally. Even Umrah overstayers who came before July 3, 2008, have been allowed to stay if they can find a sponsor,” he said.



The consulate has been notified that deportation centers will start issuing exit stamps starting Saturday. Two Pakistan consulate representatives will each be at the Labor Office and Deportation Center to facilitate procedures for Pakistani workers. “Those wishing to leave the Kingdom can approach these counters and can get their exit stamps. They can then leave the Kingdom on regular flights,” he said.



The consulate is also in touch with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Shaheen Airlines to issue one-way tickets to such people at reduced rates. PIA can accommodate around 100 people daily, Khoker said.



The consulate has also simplified the procedure for securing a new passport or out-pass. “All one needs to present is his original identity card. The out-pass could be issued the same day depending on the rush,” he said.



It has created a three-person cell to look into papers of people who are applying for a new passport. All they need to secure a new passport is a sponsor’s offer letter. Without that, people will only be issued an out-pass, so that they do not abuse this opening.



“We have also had people who do not have new ID cards. We initiate a process by entering him into the NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) database and applying for a new ID card. Such people can then apply for a passport on the ID application receipt. This will save him at least three weeks,” Khokher explained.



The consulate had 20 companies on board which were willing to offer job opportunities to Pakistanis without jobs. The Welfare Section has put up a dedicated notice board where prospective employers can paste their adverts there for all to see.



The Welfare Section has also made voice clips of the instructions, which are playing on screens and sound systems at the consulate.