RIYADH, Oct 30: More than 50,000 expatriate taxi drivers, including a large number of Pakistanis, have been banned by Saudi Arabia from driving taxis to provide jobs to the rising number of unemployed Saudis.

After six months no foreigner will be allowed to drive a taxi, an announcement emphasized.

Besides Pakistanis, a large number of Indians, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans and other nationals would be affected once the orders are implemented.

In a cable to Interior Minister Prince Naif, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah said the number of foreign drivers operating taxis “has been increasing rapidly, although a large number of Saudis are wiling to do the job.”

More than 90 percent of taxi drivers in the kingdom are foreigners but they cannot own the taxis.

Prince Abdullah ordered that in order to restrict the number of new arrivals on work visas, only the labour and social affairs ministry would be responsible for recruitment of foreign workers, withdrawing the facility from the interior ministry. While restricting issuance of labour visas to the ministry of labour and social affairs, the crown prince said: “Issuance of work permits and visas for all purposes has been more than actually needed which poses a real danger to the Saudi society.”

Currently, work permits and other visas fall under various ministries, including those of interior, labour, Hajj and foreign affairs.

However, as per the order, issuance of visas for marrying foreign women as well as diplomatic visas and guest pilgrim visas will come under the jurisdiction of interior and foreign ministries.

In another cable addressed to the interior minister, Prince Abdullah ordered that no group visas for Hajj, Umrah or visits should be issued.

Unofficial estimates put the unemployment rate among Saudi men at about 15 per cent. The labour and social affairs minister disclosed recently that there were 3.2 million Saudi job seekers in the country.

Expatriate drivers have often complained that they have long working hours and that the employment conditions are not congenial. Many here feel that it may not be possible for the limousine companies to find suitable Saudis to replace the expatriate drivers within the stipulated period.