The government of Saudi Arabia has extended the deadline for Nitaqat.

The government said that the deadline has been extended to November 3. The development was announced by the Ministry of Employment hours before the older deadline was to have expired.

It is believed  that in the past three months, 16 lakh people have either rectified their residence status or have left Saudi Arabia because of Nitaqat. This includes about one lakh Indians.

The state is to enhance scrutiny of those violating Nitaqat norms from Thursday.