Saudi officials set to review Hajj op in Pakistan
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Sunday announced that a 45-member Saudi delegation has arrived in Pakistan to assess arrangements for the 'Road to Makkah' project in a bid to facilitate Pakistani pilgrims during the upcoming Hajj season.
According to the ministry's spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt, officials from the ministry warmly received the delegation at the Islamabad International Airport (IIA).
Under the 'Road to Makkah' initiative, a total of 50,500 Pakistani pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia via designated flights, he said, adding that of these, approximately 28,000 pilgrims will depart from IIA, while 22,500 will fly from Karachi's Jinnah International Airport. He further informed that 100 flights will operate from Islamabad and 80 from Karachi under the project.
Umar Butt said dedicated immigration counters for pilgrims will be established at both Islamabad and Karachi airports. Significantly, under the 'Road to Makkah' project, pilgrims' immigration procedures will be completed in Pakistan, eliminating the need for clearance upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, he maintained.
Umar Butt said the ministry has issued important guidelines for pilgrims. He said it is mandatory for all pilgrims to receive essential vaccinations before departure. Pilgrims are advised to visit the nearest Haji Camp to receive free vaccinations against meningitis, influenza, and polio, he said, adding that after vaccination, obtaining the yellow vaccination card is compulsory, as entry into Saudi Arabia without a valid vaccination certificate is not permitted.
Umar Butt said pilgrims above the age of 65 must carry their original COVID-19 vaccination card as in the absence of the card, senior pilgrims are instructed to get vaccinated at the nearest Haji Camp and obtain a new certificate.
Umar Butt said the ministry also issued a strong warning against fraudulent Hajj permits. "Pilgrims must only travel with valid and approved Hajj permits," said the ministry's spokesperson, adding that the ministry had cautioned that fraudulent companies and unauthorized advertisements could mislead pilgrims with fake permits, leading to severe consequences.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistani pilgrims laud Saudi Arabia for ‘impressive' Hajj arrangements
Over 115,000 Pakistani pilgrims travelled to Saudi Arabia this year to perform the annual pilgrimage. Photo Courtesy: Harmain Listen to article Pakistani pilgrims on Saturday lauded the Saudi government for its 'impressive' arrangements during this year's Hajj, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said, as Muslims across Pakistan and the world celebrated Eid al-Adha. Over 115,000 Pakistani pilgrims travelled to Saudi Arabia this year under government and private schemes to perform the annual pilgrimage. 'I had a very good Hajj experience,' said Nadia Sarfaraz, a pilgrim from Karachi. 'Everything went smoothly and we have no complaints against anyone. The Saudi government is providing support here and our own government is helping a lot too.' To Arafat! Labbaik Allahuma Labbaik! — Inside the Haramain (@insharifain) June 5, 2025 Rabia Babar, a pilgrim from Islamabad, praised the facilitation of pilgrims, particularly women, highlighting the separate lifts and fully carpeted areas in Muzdalifah, where pilgrims spend the night. This year's Hajj saw heightened security and measures to combat illicit pilgrims, along with various heat mitigation efforts that resulted in smaller crowds at the holy sites in Makkah and surrounding areas. 'There were coolers and drinking water available everywhere,' Babar said. 'They had large refrigerators and provided water bottles and even shower facilities.' Faraz Latif, a pilgrim from Quetta, commended both the Pakistani and Saudi governments for the arrangements, urging fellow pilgrims to maintain cleanliness and embrace patience during and beyond Hajj. His Highness The Emir of Madinah performs Eid Al Adha prayers in Masjid Al Nabawi. — Inside the Haramain (@insharifain) June 6, 2025 'It will help you not just during Hajj but throughout your life,' he said. The first Pakistani flight carrying Hajj pilgrims back home is scheduled to arrive in Karachi on June 11.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
PM, Field Marshal perform Umrah
JEDDAH: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir have performed Umrah along with members of the Pakistani delegation during their ongoing official visit to Saudi Arabia. During the Umrah pilgrimage, special prayers were offered for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan, the unity of the Muslim Ummah, and for the oppressed people of Gaza. Upon arrival in Jeddah, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was warmly received by Prince Saud bin Abdullah Al Jiluwi, Governor of Jeddah; Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan; Ahmed Farooq, Pakistan's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; and other diplomatic officials. The Prime Minister's visit is scheduled for June 5 and 6, and he is spending Eid-ul-Azha in Saudi Arabia. A special meeting will be held between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During the meeting, both leaders will discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in key areas including trade and investment, welfare of the Muslim Ummah, and regional peace and security. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also thank the Saudi leadership for their constructive role in easing the recent Pakistan-India tensions.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan's vaccine independence: a national imperative
Pakistan stands at a critical crossroads in public health policy. With seven million births annually and a population growth rate of 2.55%, our nation faces an unprecedented challenge in vaccine security that demands immediate and decisive action. The looming withdrawal of GAVI support by 2031 presents not just a crisis, but an opportunity to transform Pakistan into a self-reliant pharmaceutical powerhouse. The stark reality we face The numbers paint a sobering picture of our current vulnerability. Pakistan's complete dependency on donated and discounted vaccine supplies, supported by GAVI, UNICEF, and WHO to the tune of PKR 26 billion annually, masks a deeper structural weakness. When GAVI's support ends in 2031, the financial burden will balloon to PKR 100 billion annually as nearly four times our current federal health budget of PKR 27 billion. This dependency is not merely financial; it represents a fundamental threat to national health security. This isn't just underdevelopment—it's a systematic surrender of national health autonomy. Today, Pakistan produces virtually no antigens for the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) vaccines domestically. We lack essential seed banks, have minimal university-based vaccine development programs, and operate with regulatory guidelines that are inadequate for sophisticated vaccine manufacturing. Our clinical trial expertise remains severely limited, creating bottlenecks in bringing locally developed vaccines to market. The contrast with global pharmaceutical leaders is stark. While universities worldwide have been the birthplace of revolutionary vaccines-from the Hepatitis B vaccine developed at UC San Francisco to the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine-Pakistan's academic institutions remain largely disconnected from commercial vaccine production. Learning from global success stories International experience offers valuable lessons. India transformed itself into the 'pharmacy of the world' through strategic government support for generic manufacturing and robust regulatory frameworks. Singapore built a biomedical hub through integrated research, manufacturing, and regulatory excellence that attracted billions in global pharmaceutical investment. South Korea's government-industry partnerships created world-class biopharmaceutical capabilities. These success stories share common elements: sustained government commitment, strategic investment in infrastructure, regulatory excellence, and comprehensive talent development programs. Most importantly, they demonstrate that with the right approach, developing nations can achieve pharmaceutical self-sufficiency and even become global exporters. The Triple Helix solution The path forward requires unprecedented coordination between government, academia, and industry -what experts call the 'Triple Helix' approach. Each sector must play a distinct yet interconnected role in building national vaccine capacity. Government leadership is essential in creating policy frameworks that incentivize domestic production while providing funding for university research. Strategic assignments to national research institutions like the National Institute of Health, Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), International Centre for Chemical and Biological sciences (ICCBS), Karachi University, Department of Biotechnology, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), etc., can accelerate vaccine development and establish crucial seed banks. Most critically, the government must develop a comprehensive national health security strategy that positions vaccine self-sufficiency as a matter of national defense. The regulatory transformation cannot be understated. Pakistan's Drug Regulatory Authority must achieve WHO Level 3 qualification and create 'regulatory sandboxes — collaborative environments where university researchers, industry partners, and regulatory experts jointly develop guidelines for the 13 critical EPI vaccine antigens. Fast-track approval pathways and clear regulatory roadmaps will accelerate the journey from laboratory research to commercial production. Formation of sandboxes by bringing together leaders of the University, Regulatory and Industry. Universities must step up as innovation engines. Institutions with BSL-III laboratories should lead development of live attenuated vaccines, while biotechnology departments focus on recombinant vaccine technologies. Specialized vaccine research centers, industry-relevant curricula, and technology transfer offices will bridge the gap between academic discovery and commercial application. State-of-the-art pilot manufacturing facilities will provide proof-of-concept capabilities essential for scaling innovations. Industry brings manufacturing excellence and market expertise to the equation. Private sector partners can transform academic research into GMP-compliant commercial production, establish robust supply chains for raw materials, and navigate complex regulatory approvals. Their distribution networks and market access capabilities will ensure that domestically produced vaccines reach every corner of Pakistan. Leading companies in Pakistan already in the field of Biopharmaceutical manufacturing must be involved in the development process. A realistic implementation roadmap Success requires a phased approach spanning six years. The foundation phase (Years 1-2) must establish policy frameworks and coordination mechanisms while launching capacity-building programmes. Infrastructure development (Years 2-4) involves scaling laboratory manufacturing capabilities, establishing vaccine testing facilities, and launching pilot production programs. The scale-up phase (Years 4-6) transitions to commercial production of EPI vaccines, regulatory approvals, and distribution network establishment. Finally, the optimization phase (Year 6+) expands manufacturing capabilities, develops advanced biologics production, and positions Pakistan as a regional pharmaceutical hub. Financial innovation will be crucial. Blended financing models combining public funding, private investment, and support from institutions like the Islamic Development Bank can mobilise the substantial capital required for drug substance manufacturing facilities. The initial investment may be significant, but the long-term savings and export potential far outweigh the costs. The economic and strategic imperative The benefits extend far beyond health security. A robust domestic vaccine industry could create over 5,000 jobs and reduce import dependency by 50 percent. More importantly, it would establish Pakistan as a regional pharmaceutical hub with significant export potential to neighboring countries and the broader Islamic world. The Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the critical importance of pharmaceutical self-reliance. Nations with domestic production capabilities could respond rapidly to their populations' needs, while others waited months for external supplies. This lesson cannot be ignored as we face an uncertain global health landscape. The time for action is now Pakistan's demographic dividend — with 65 percent of the population under 30 — represents an unprecedented opportunity to build a knowledge-based pharmaceutical sector. However, this window will not remain open indefinitely. The GAVI deadline of 2031 provides a clear timeline for action, but preparation must begin immediately. The success of this transformation depends on political will, sustained investment, and most importantly, recognition that vaccine self-sufficiency is not a luxury but a national security imperative. Countries that fail to develop domestic pharmaceutical capabilities will remain perpetually vulnerable to supply disruptions, price volatility, and foreign policy pressures. A call to national action The establishment of National and Provincial Coordination Committees bringing together leaders from academia, industry, and regulatory agencies represents the essential first step. This must be followed by a comprehensive assessment of current capabilities, development of a detailed national vaccine strategy, and launch of pilot programmes for immediate impact. Pakistan has the intellectual capital, institutional foundation and market potential to achieve vaccine independence. What we need now is the collective will to transform this potential into reality. The health and prosperity of future generations depend on the decisions we make today. The choice is clear: remain dependent on the goodwill of international donors or invest in building a self-reliant pharmaceutical sector that serves not only Pakistan's needs but positions the nation as a leader in global health innovation. The Triple Helix approach offers a proven pathway to pharmaceutical independence-we must have the courage to take it. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
