JEDDAH – The Council of Ministers reiterated on Monday that there won't be any leniency toward foreigners who overstay in the Kingdom in violation of the residency (Iqama) and labor laws after the expiry of the extended amnesty period. Stringent punitive measures will be taken against all violating expatriates and their employers soon after the end of the Nov. 3 deadline. The Cabinet reminded all illegal expatriates to benefit from the extension of the grace period, announced by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in early July, to correct the residency and legal status, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja said that the Cabinet also reviewed a report about the successful conclusion of the Umrah season that witnessed performance of the rituals by more than five million pilgrims in ease and comfort. The session commended the successful Umrah operational plan that could maintain a balance between the numbers of pilgrims and expansion projects underway at the Two Holy Mosques. The Cabinet welcomed the Haj pilgrims who have started arriving in the two holy cities. Dr. Khoja said that the Cabinet endorsed the security agreement for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries approved by the 33rd GCC Summit held in Bahrain. The agreement calls for cooperation of GCC states in chasing those who violate laws or who are wanted by any member country irrespective of their nationalities, and then take appropriate legal measures against them. All GCC states would act as a single party in taking legal measures against the crime committed by any citizens or expatriates from these states by interfering in the internal affairs of any other country. All states would extend cooperation in exchange of information and personal details of citizens and expatriates in the matters that come under the Ministry of Interior upon a request from anyone of the states. The Cabinet also approved the updated general framework of the population strategy of GCC states and agreed to apply it as guidelines in line with the decision of the Bahrain GCC summit in this regard. – SG
