Hundreds of expatriates classified as runaways in Saudi Arabia may now avoid jail and go back to their countries, benefiting from a recent concession announced by the government, a report said.

The concession rules that the runaways, or huroobs, should have no pending criminal cases pending and must clear any outstanding fines, the Arab News report added.

They are also required to pay for their tickets and obtain an undertaking from their consulates that they would leave the country in 72 hours.

Pakistan consul general Aftab Khokher noted that there were many distressed workers from his country in Saudi Arabia.

This concession being granted by the Saudi government was first proposed by the Pakistani mission because of the many distressed workers from his country.

“Such cases will now be processed by the consulate,” Khokher was quoted in the report.

“Those who have been declared huroob will not have to spend time in jail as was the case in the past.”

The government’s conditions state the workers must be taken by their consulates to the Shumaisi centre for fingerprinting, said Khokher.

Khokher said the consulate would now start registering these workers and find out if they are facing any criminal charges or have to pay fines.