Riyadh, June 7 (V7N) — Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended the issuance of work visas for citizens of 14 countries, including India, amid this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. The Saudi Foreign Minister announced that this step aims to prevent overcrowding during the sacred event.

The affected countries are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Libya, Kenya, and Turkey, according to India’s official news agency PTI.

Earlier in February, Saudi Arabia had revised its visa policy for these 14 nations, introducing ‘single entry’ visas valid for 30 days, allowing holders to enter Saudi Arabia only once. This move was intended to regulate the flow of pilgrims and workers.

The new temporary suspension specifically targets work visas, which many residents of these countries use to enter Saudi Arabia for employment purposes. Government sources say the measure is meant to control crowd density during the Hajj, as some pilgrims had previously entered Mecca without their names being registered on Saudi visas, causing overcrowding.

Saudi authorities have now implemented a stricter system to ensure proper registration and management of pilgrims to maintain safety and order during the religious event.

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