IN a statement released by the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah, the Consulate urged Pakistani overstayers not to “create embarrassment for themselves, their wards and the Consulate” by failing to leave the Kingdom at the required time, and advised others to abide by the rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia. “A large number of Pakistanis who visit the Kingdom for Umrah have the tendency to overstay beyond the validity of their visa. Their stay in the Kingdom is illegal and they can be subjected to imprisonment and heavy fines,” the statement said, adding that those who provide shelter to these overstayers are also violating the law. “They often indulge in illegal activities and crimes to earn their livelihood and, therefore, give a bad name to the Pakistani community and the country,” it said. The Consulate also cautioned countrymen to abstain from all kinds of street protests in the Kingdom as they are strictly prohibited. Meanwhile, in Riyadh, around SR200,000 was raised for the construction fund of the newly acquired building of the Pakistan International School - Nasiriyah, Riyadh (PISR). Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the school last week, Pakistani Ambassador Shahid Karimullah urged the Pakistani community to donate generously towards the construction fund. “This is a great achievement as PISR now becomes the only Pakistani school in the Kingdom to have its own building that is registered in its name. Now it is the community's responsibility to reach out and help PISR build its school campus,” Karimullah said. The Ambassador donated SR10,000 towards the school's construction fund. Dr. Fazlur Rehman, who laid the foundation stone of the first Pakistani school in Nasiriyah 40 years ago, was the Guest of Honor. – With Faiz Al
