The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) offloaded eight women from a Saudi Arabia-bound flight at Multan Airport, ARY News reported on Thursday.
“The women were allegedly traveling to Saudi Arabia to beg,” stated a spokesperson from the FIA’s immigration wing.
The women, identified as Sobia, Khadija, Aasia, Saira, Sajda, Salma, Sameena, and Naghma, are natives of Bahawalnagar. Each had 200 Saudi Riyals in their possession, according to the FIA.
These women have been transferred to the FIA’s anti-human trafficking circle in Multan for further legal action.
Last December, the FIA similarly offloaded nine alleged beggars, disguised as Umrah pilgrims, from another Saudi Arabia-bound flight at Multan Airport.
According to the FIA spokesperson, these nine passengers, including six women and two men, were unable to provide proof of hotel bookings for their stay in Saudi Arabia.
The FIA spokesperson added that strict monitoring is in place to dismantle begging syndicates. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has previously informed the Senate Committee on Overseas Pakistanis that a significant number of beggars are trafficked abroad through illegal channels.
