Hassan Cheruppa Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Consuls general of a number of Asian countries have called for intervention from Saudi authorities to speed-up the process at the deportation center otherwise it will be difficult to complete the procedures for sending undocumented expat workers back home within the extended amnesty period. The status correction work has almost stopped due to tardiness at Tarheel (deportation center), said the consuls general of Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan's Consul General Aftab Ahmad Khokher, who represents some 1.2 million expatriates in the Western Region, told Saudi Gazette that even though the consulate issued 14,000 emergency passports, only 3,200 of them were processed for fingerprinting and of which 50 percent had a final exit stamp. Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai said they managed to get exit stamp only for around 4,000 nationals out of the 22,550 emergency certificates issued. The disparity in figures is almost same in the case of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh Consul General Md Nazmul Islam said something must be done quickly to speed up fingerprinting as all consulates have a huge backlog. “All arrangements at our consulate are smooth and going well. But things are stuck at Tarheel,” said Sri Lanka Consul General Dr. Adambawa Uthumalebbe. He also welcomed the Cabinet decision to approve new regulations for domestic workers, saying: “This is a very good step. The entire Sri Lankan community is very much happy with the new regulations.” The consuls general welcomed the extension of amnesty as a blessing from King Abdullah for millions of expatriates in the blessed month of Ramadan. It saved them from suffering under hot sun in Ramadan and also gave them an opportunity to utilize the holy month in seeking God's forgiveness as well as to perform Umrah, they said. The diplomats urged authorities to address the problem of thousands of expatriates whose correction process have been hampered due to their inability to produce any valid document like passport or entry visa number. A large number of expatriates have been prevented from rectifying their status due to problems related to sponsor. In many cases, they don't know anything about their sponsor, and in some other cases sponsor demands even up to SR10,000 in return for a release. The consul generals pointed out that in Ramadan, they are getting around four hours at Tarheel instead of more than 20 hours before Ramadan. One month after Ramadan, Haj flights will start and everybody will be preoccupied with Haj operation, and this is another cause of concern, they added.
