Pakistan begins emergency training for Hajj support staff ahead of pilgrimage
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Thursday it had launched an emergency response training program for Hajj support staff called Moavineen to equip them with first aid and civil defense skills ahead of this year's pilgrimage.
The sessions, underway at Islamabad's Haji Camp, include hands-on instruction in CPR, crowd management and life-saving techniques.
The initiative is part of broader preparations for Hajj 2025, when nearly 90,000 Pakistanis are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme.
'Expert trainers from Rescue 1122 Islamabad are conducting the sessions, providing hands-on instruction and practical demonstrations to the participants,' the ministry said in a statement.
'All selected Moavineen for this year's Hajj operations are undergoing the training,' it continued. 'The program is designed to equip them with essential life-saving skills and emergency response techniques to ensure the safety and well-being of Pakistani pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia.'
The ministry said the training aims to strengthen the capacity of Moavineen to respond to medical emergencies and other challenges that may arise during the annual pilgrimage, including heat-related illness and large crowd movement.
Pakistan has been allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2025, with the first government-arranged flight to Saudi Arabia scheduled to depart on April 29.
The Hajj rituals are expected to take place between June 4 and June 9, subject to moon sighting.
Authorities have also launched mandatory pre-departure workshops across the country to educate pilgrims on health precautions and Saudi laws and customs during their stay.
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