Pakistanis can travel to Saudi Arabia for work, despite coronavirus restrictions

• The Saudi authorities say that passengers holding employment visa, work visit visa, business visit visa and family visit visa are exempted from the travel restrictions imposed by the Kingdom.

Pakistanis can travel to Saudi Arabia for employment and business opportunities, despite travel restrictions imposed by the Kingdom.

The government of Saudi Arabia on Thursday sent shockwaves after it announced to bar Umrah pilgrims and tourists to enter into the Kingdom citing coronavirus fears. However, the Saudi authorities clarified that passengers holding employment visa, work visit visa, business visit visa and family visit visa are exempted from the travel restrictions imposed by the Kingdom.

Over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates reside in the KSA, and the country is a preferred work choice for many as well. The Saudi Arabian Airlines said in a statement that all the above mentioned visa holders will be allowed to enter the Kingdom until further notice.

Saudi Arabia on Thursday suspended arrivals by foreigners for the Umrah pilgrimage and tourists from two dozen countries including Pakistan where the new coronavirus has spread, as a growing number of cases globally deepened fears of a pandemic.

As per reports, Directorate General of Passports (Jawazat) stated that holders of multiple reentry visit visas, who left the Kingdom, can reenter the country provided that they did not visit any of the countries affected by the new coronavirus during the period of two weeks before their arrival in the Kingdom.

The virus has infected about 80,000 people worldwide and killed more than 2,800, the majority in China where the outbreak began late last year.