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Express Tribune
19-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Hajj 2025: A Journey of Faith, Comfort, and Care
Abdul Wahab Soomro said that Pakistani Government's Hajj scheme continues to set new benchmarks Listen to article Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and the diligent supervision of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, the Government Hajj Scheme for 88380 pilgrims is being elevated to unprecedented heights to ensure a seamless and spiritually enriching pilgrimage. Key initiatives have been implemented to enhance the overall pilgrim experience. The Pakistani Government's Hajj scheme offers the lowest-cost Hajj package globally, providing superior facilities compared to both public and private sector Hajj programs worldwide. To further enhance accessibility, the Short Hajj Scheme was introduced for the first-time last year, attracting 17,000 pilgrims in 2024, with registrations increasing to 21,000 in 2025. This initiative ensures affordability without compromising on essential services. Pilgrims are now given the option to choose between single, double, or triple-bed rooms at an additional cost, allowing for personalized comfort. Additionally, family rooms are provided free of charge wherever possible, enabling families to stay together conveniently. This enhancement ensures a more comfortable and cohesive experience for pilgrims traveling with loved ones. Due to the non-uniform nature of buildings in Makkah, accommodations are allocated based on pilgrim profiling, ensuring optimal convenience. However, assignments are ultimately randomized while maintaining integration with flight schedules and departure points. This systematic approach balances fairness with logistical efficiency. To minimize the risk of lost belongings, unique, standardized luggage has been provided to all pilgrims, designed to be easily identifiable even from a distance. Additionally, Mina bags have been introduced to discourage pilgrims from carrying large bags into Mina, reducing congestion and inconvenience for others. For the first time in the history of the Government Hajj Scheme, air-conditioned tents with gypsum board partitions and sofa beds have been introduced in Mina. These sofa beds feature head partitions, which help prevent the spread of communicable diseases, allergies, and bad breath. Overhead shelves have also been installed to store Mina bags, effectively addressing space constraints in the tents. This year, 56% of pilgrims will be accommodated in Old Mina, while 44% will stay in New Mina. Transportation in Mashair will be facilitated by 73% train usage and 27% bus usage, ensuring smooth mobility for all pilgrims. For the second consecutive year, 100% of pilgrims will be housed in Madina Markazia, ensuring proximity to the Prophet's Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi). The accommodations in Madinah range from 3 to 5-star buildings, while Makkah stays include iconic structures such as Hiddaya Towers and Rayyan Towers, among other highly rated facilities. Pilgrims will benefit from modern, air-conditioned buses for Salwat transportation, ensuring comfortable commutes between their residences and the Haram Sharif. Additionally, an exceptionally diverse and rich menu has been curated, catering to the varied taste preferences of pilgrims from different regions of Pakistan, ensuring a satisfying dining experience for all. To safeguard the health and well-being of pilgrims, around 400 medical and paramedical officers are deployed across dedicated healthcare facilities. These include one well equipped hospital and nine dispensaries in Makkah, along with one hospital and two dispensaries in Madinah. In collaboration with Saudi German Hospital and other leading medical institutions, this robust healthcare network ensures 24/7 emergency care, routine medical assistance, and prompt response to health concerns, providing pilgrims with peace of mind throughout their journey. A dedicated team of 1,200 Pakistan-based staff and 600 Saudi-based local welfare personnel works tirelessly in coordination with Service Provider Company Al Rajhi to assist pilgrims at every stage of their journey. From airport assistance and accommodation logistics to transportation coordination to Haramain, this extensive support network ensures smooth operations. Additionally, staff members are readily available to address food arrangements, luggage handling, and any complaints, guaranteeing a hassle-free and memorable Hajj experience for all pilgrims. The Pakistani Government's Hajj scheme continues to set new benchmarks in affordability, comfort, and logistical efficiency. Through innovative measures such as air-conditioned Mina tents, family-friendly accommodations, optimized luggage systems, and high-quality transportation, the program ensures a seamless and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage experience. These enhancements demonstrate a strong commitment to facilitating Hajj with maximum convenience at minimal cost. These measures reflect the government's unwavering commitment to prioritizing pilgrim comfort, safety, and spiritual fulfillment while maintaining the highest standards of service excellence.
Arab News
15-05-2025
- Arab News
Pakistan offers lowest-cost Hajj package under government scheme globally, says official
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Director General Hajj Abdul Wahab Soomro said on Thursday that Islamabad is offering its citizens the lowest-cost Hajj package globally, vowing that authorities have aimed to prioritize pilgrims' comfort, safety and spiritual fulfillment for this year's pilgrimage. Pakistan this year introduced a shortened Hajj program of 20 to 25 days to make the pilgrimage more convenient and accessible, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said earlier this year. It set the cost at around Rs1,075,000 ($3,854) for the long Hajj package and Rs1,150,000 ($4,122) for the short Hajj package, as shorter stays often incur higher airfare, premium accommodation rates, and expedited transport services, which drive up overall costs. In a statement issued from Makkah, Soomro said the government's Hajj Scheme for 88,380 pilgrims is being elevated to 'unprecedented heights' to ensure a seamless and spiritually enriching pilgrimage, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 'Highlighting the key initiatives, he [Soomro] said our scheme offers the lowest-cost Hajj package globally,' Radio Pakistan said. 'Pilgrims are now given the option to choose between single, double, or triple-bed rooms at an additional cost.' The official said that due to the non-uniform nature of Makkah's buildings, accommodations are allocated to Pakistani pilgrims based on pilgrim profiling to ensure optimal convenience. He said Pakistan's health care network, in collaboration with the Saudi German Hospital and other leading medical institutions, ensures 24/7 emergency care. 'The DG Hajj said such innovative measures and enhancements demonstrate a strong commitment to facilitating Hajj with maximum convenience at minimal cost,' the statement added. This year's Hajj will take place in June, with over 23,620 Pakistanis expected to perform the pilgrimage through private tour operators.
Arab News
13-05-2025
- Arab News
Pakistan Hajj mission chief says Saudi digital innovations have ‘revolutionized' pilgrimage experience
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has 'revolutionized' spiritual experience of Hajj pilgrims by means of various mobile applications and digital platforms, Pakistan's Hajj mission chief said on Monday. Over the last few years, Saudi Arabia has launched mobile apps like Nusuk, Hajj Navigator, Tawakkalna and Asefny to streamline services, making the Hajj experience smoother by offering real-time guidance and ensuring pilgrim safety. The Nusuk app offers permit issuance, booking services, interactive maps, real-time updates and health facility access — all in multiple languages. Tawakkalna provides information and services related to the pilgrimage, Hajj Navigator offers real-time maps, crowd updates and traffic alerts. Asefny allows requests for emergency medical services. 'These innovations have made the pilgrimage significantly easier, providing services at the click of a button and eliminating the need to wait in long queues,' Director-General of Pakistan Hajj Mission Abdul Wahab Soomro told Arab News from Makkah. He said the applications have assisted all foreign missions with early bookings and other arrangements, contributing to better Hajj planning. 'There is an e-Hajj portal where all Hajj contracts, such as those for buildings, camps and service providers are uploaded which has helped complete payments and other formalities through a unified platform,' Soomro said. About arrangements for Pakistani pilgrims, the official said around 89,000 Pakistani pilgrims are performing Hajj under the government scheme this year and all of them have been accommodated near the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. In Makkah, he said, pilgrims were given residence in the 'best hotels and buildings' in Azizia and Batha Quraish neighborhoods. 'For the first time in Pakistan's history, the Mina arrangements for government scheme pilgrims are done in fully air-conditioned camps, with sofa-cum-beds replacing mattresses and shields provided for bag storage,' he added. Pakistan's Hajj medical mission includes one hospital each in Makkah and Madinah, along with two dispensaries in Madinah and nine in Makkah, according to the official. All of these are fully functional. On April 29, Pakistan launched its Hajj flight operation which will continue till May 31. However, the operations witnessed some disruptions last week due to the closure of Pakistani airspace, amid a military standoff with India. Soomro shared that they were trying to address the flight disruptions by arranging special flights. 'More than 25,000 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia so far; 11,543 in Makkah and 13,477 in Madinah,' he said. The annual pilgrimage is expected to take place between June 4 and June 9 this year. Besides the 89,000 individuals performing Hajj under the government scheme, 23,620 Pakistanis will perform the pilgrimage through private tour operators this year.
