By Muhammad Luqman
Saudi Arabia has placed a temporary ban on travelers for Umrah and tourism purposes from countries where coronavirus cases have been reported, including Pakistan, according to a statement from kingdom’s foreign ministry on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Pakistan reported its first two cases of the coronavirus. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, confirmed the cases and said the government was taking precautionary measures to ensure the virus is contained.
All airlines have been directed to inform their passengers to wait for further orders. The government is “suspending entry to the Kingdom for the purpose of Umrah and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque temporarily”, the Saudi foreign ministry statement added.
Umrah attracts tens of thousands of Muslims from all over the globe each month. The foreign ministry said it was also suspending visas for tourists visiting from countries where the new virus is a “danger”.
We ask God Almighty to spare all humanity from all harm#CoronaVirus#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/TEYvIW1Wbd
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) February 26, 2020
According to English newspaper, The News, data from the Saudi Hajj and Umrah Ministry for the month of December last, Indonesia contributed the second highest number of Umrah pilgrims with 443,879 arrivals, just below Pakistan with 495,270.
However, Pakistan’s national airliner, PIA said that the flight operations to Saudia Arabia will continue as per schedule to bring Umrah pilgrims back to home.
A statement from the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said that those who were travelling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and on tourist visas would not be able to do so.
Pakistanis who have permission or permanent residence of Saudi Arabia are the only ones who will be able to travel to the country.
“Travelers can only travel to Saudi Arabia if they have permission and permanent residence. All PIA flights to Saudi Arabia will be operating normally as per schedule to service all other passengers. PIA will fully implement the instructions given by the Saudi government,” read the statement.
The coronavirus outbreak has already killed more than 2,700 people, most of them in China, and spread to about 29 other countries, according to a Reuters tally. The number of confirmed cases has risen above 80,000.
The new coronavirus is believed to have originated in a market selling wildlife in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year and has infected about 80,000 people and killed more than 2,700, the vast majority in China.
