His Excellency Shah Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Honourable President of Pakistan Mr. Mamnoon Hussain Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Nasir-ul-Mulk
TO THE GOVERNMENTS OF KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN TO STOP IMPLEMENTATION OF BIOMETRIC CONDITION FOR UMRAH AND HAJJ PILGRIMS
TAAP appreciates His Excellency Shah Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, The Khadim-e-Harmain Sharefain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the steps taken to develop and extend the capacity of Harmain Sharefain for the purpose of Muslim Ummah to perform Umrah and Hajj in large numbers. For this the people of Islamic Republic of Pakistan extend their high tribute to His Excellency Khadim-e-Harmain Sharefain. Moreover the officials of Saudi Embassy at Islamabad and Consulate General at Karachi also deserve appreciation for their day and night hardworking and granting large numbers of Umrah Visa by cooperating TAAP and make it possible for large number of pilgrims to perform Umrah.
Approximately over 8 lac people from Pakistan perform Umrah every year, and most of them belongs to lower and middle class families. Due to the introduction of biometric system, not only the financial expenses of Umrah pilgrims will increase but also increase their difficulties. More over the people from all Provinces, Districts, Tehsils and Villages have to appear for Fingerprints at the centers away from their destination. Due to this system the purpose of Kingdom’s for facilitation to the Umrah and Hajj pilgrim may damage the cause and as such a large number of Umrah pilgrims will not be able to proceed to Kingdom for performing Umrah.
Out of 80% of 20 crore population of Pakistan belongs to the far flung areas from Karachi to Kashmir where most of the people are illiterate and wish to perform Umrah by their hard earned savings.
Therefore, the Umrah and Hajj Operators of Pakistan humbly and fervently request and appeal to HIS EXCELLENCY KHADIM-E-HARMAIN SHAREFAIN KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDUL AZIZ, Honorable President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice of Islamic Republic of Pakistan that the implementation of condition of the Biometric system for Umrah and Hajj pilgrims who are the guests of Allah may be withdrawn, the visa policy for Umrah Pilgrims may be made easy and in view of the sensitivity of matter ths condition of fingerprints under Etimad (Pvt.) Ltd. may please be waived for Umrah and Hajj pilgrims.
Travel Agents’ Association of Pakistan
Room No. 115, 1st Floor, Central Hotel Building, Merewether Road, Karachi-75530, Pakistan. Ph : 35682748, 35656022 Fax : 92-21-35214614 E-mail: taap.khi@gmail.com Website: www.taap.org.pk