The Saudi authorities have issued a new decree canceling the previous order of a hefty tax on repeat Umrah travelers.
In order to manage the massive influx of religious tourists, the Saudi government had imposed a hefty tax of 2000 Saudi Riyals on the pilgrims coming for Umrah for the second time in a Hijri year.
The decision received massive backlash from within and outside the country.
There was a sense of disappointment among hundreds of thousands of Pakistani pilgrims upon hearing the news of repeat Umrah fees.
After the new decree, people can easily travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah as many times as they want without any extra charge.
The Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister, Dr Mohammad Salih Bentin, said on Tuesday:
The royal decree is part of the leadership’s keenness to facilitate the arrival of Muslims from all over the world to perform Hajj and Umrah.
Bentin said the Kingdom was ready to receive an increased number of tourists thanks to massive infrastructural developments in Makkah, Madinah and other holy places.
The tax was initially announced last year for pilgrims around the world. However, on the request of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Umrah fee was abolished for Pakistani pilgrims.
Via: Arab News
Big LOL on last para.
2000 SAR is not removed on PM IMRAN Khan request. Its been waved off altogether for the whole Muslim Umah.
Although an additional 300 SAR fee have been imposed to all umrah pilgrims. Umrah rates might go further up as Saudi Government is making few changes in the Umrah policies/ new system.
Ye Tax Laga Bhi Pakistani Pe tha Ya All Muslims of the World ?
All umrah pilgrims