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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.
India Gazette
10-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
PCB postpones multiple domestic tournaments due to security conditions in the country
Lahore [Pakistan] May 10 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday confirmed that the ongoing President's Trophy Grade-II, Regional Intra-District Challenge Cup, and Inter-District U19 One-Day tournament has been postponed with immediate effect due to the prevailing security conditions in the country, as per a release from PCB. The tournaments will resume from the same stage later, and a revised schedule will be shared closer to the resumption. PCB announced on Friday evening that the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been postponed, citing the 'worsening of the situation' at the India-Pakistan border. 'The last 24 hours have seen a worsening of the situation on the LOC. The decision to postpone has been taken pursuant to advice received from the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif,' PCB said in a statement. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has also been suspended for a week due to the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said that the new tournament schedule will be announced in due course after consultations with the government and the stakeholders. 'The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend the remainder of the ongoing IPL 2025 with immediate effect for one week. Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders,' BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in the statement. Tensions have been escalating between Pakistan and India after Pakistan caused a string of actions against India which were effectively responded to by the Indian armed forces. On Saturday in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasised that the actions being undertaken by Pakistan against India are being seen as 'escalatory' and 'provocative' in nature. He made the remarks during a press briefing, where proofs of Pakistan's escalatory and provocative actions were provided alongside exposing the lies being peddled by Pakistan. (ANI)
NDTV
10-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Two Domestic Cricket Tournaments In Pakistan Postponed Amid Ongoing Tensions With India
Regional Intra-District Challenge Cup, and Inter-District U19 One-Day tournament has been postponed with immediate effect due to the prevailing security conditions in the country, as per a release from PCB. The tournaments will resume from the same stage later, and a revised schedule will be shared closer to the resumption. PCB announced on Friday evening that the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been postponed, citing the "worsening of the situation" at the India-Pakistan border. "The last 24 hours have seen a worsening of the situation on the LOC. The decision to postpone has been taken pursuant to advice received from the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif," PCB said in a statement. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has also been suspended for a week due to the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said that the new tournament schedule will be announced in due course after consultations with the government and the stakeholders. "The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend the remainder of the ongoing IPL 2025 with immediate effect for one week. Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in the statement. Tensions have been escalating between Pakistan and India after Pakistan caused a string of actions against India which were effectively responded to by the Indian armed forces. On Saturday in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasised that the actions being undertaken by Pakistan against India are being seen as "escalatory" and "provocative" in nature. He made the remarks during a press briefing, where proofs of Pakistan's escalatory and provocative actions were provided alongside exposing the lies being peddled by Pakistan. Listen to the latest songs, only on
News18
10-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
After UAE's Rejection, PCB Postpones Pakistan Super League 'Indefinitely'
Last Updated: The Pakistan Cricket Board has indefinitely postponed the remaining eight matches of Pakistan Super League's 10th season on the instructions of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced it has 'indefinitely' postponed the remaining eight matches of Pakistan Super League (PSL)'s 10th season. The development comes amid rising cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and soon after reports about the Emirates Cricket Board rejecting PCB's request to hold the season in the UAE. The season was halted mid-way through after India launched a drone attack on Pakistan on Thursday, in retaliation for its targeting of military bases on the border, one of which struck the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. On Friday morning, the PCB announced that the remainder of the season would be shifted to the UAE. However, after a few hours, PTI reported that UAE's cricketing body, Emirates Cricket Board, was likely to reject PCB's request to host the remaining matches in the country because they were 'wary of being perceived as an ally of PCB'. 'The decision to postpone has been taken pursuant to advice received from the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif," the PCB said in a statement. '… The PCB recognizes the efforts and support of its partners, franchises, participating players, broadcasters, sponsors, and organizers in having ensured the smooth conduct of the tournament thus far, however; cricket while being a unifying force and a source of joy, must take a respectful pause…" 'We, at the PCB, also have sincere regard for the mental well-being of participating players and the sentiments of our foreign players, and we respect the concerns of their families who want to see them back home," the statement added. The remaining matches in PSL 2025 include four league-stage games and playoffs, which were scheduled to be held in Rawalpindi, Multan and Lahore. 'The Emirates Cricket Board has enjoyed a strong relationship with BCCI in recent years having hosted the 'India' edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, editions of the IPL as well as India matches during ICC Champions Trophy 2025," the mentioned source stated in the PTI report. 'The UAE has a diverse South Asian population which enjoys cricket. Hosting a tournament like the PSL in the midst of such tense circumstances could vitiate harmony, pose security risks and stir unnecessary friction between communities," the quoted source added. First Published: May 09, 2025, 21:09 IST
Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Aussie Chief updates on saftey of Australian players in IPL and PSL: ‘We continue to work closely with the Australian Government, PCB, and BCCI'
The Australian cricket CEO, Todd Greenberg, has given an update on the Australian players amidst war tensions between India and Pakistan. On Friday, both the Indian Premier League and the Pakistan Super League have been suspended. 'The safety and welfare of our players and staff is always a core priority, and we support today's decision by the BCCI,' said the Australian Chief. 'We continue to work closely with the Australian Government, PCB, and BCCI and are maintaining regular communication with players and support staff in both India and Pakistan,' he further added. 'The decision to postpone has been taken pursuant to advice received from the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif who has kept in view the reckless aggression from India that has escalated to a point where national attention and sentiments are rightly focused on the courageous efforts of the Armed Forces of Pakistan who are vociferously upholding the sovereignty of our beloved Pakistan,' PCB said in a statement said. On the other hand, 'Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders,' BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement Friday. Although the decision was formally made public only around 2.40 pm Friday, the franchises were informed of the decision earlier in the day to help the swift movement of players and support staff. While most of the Indian players had already left for their homes, the overseas contingent was scheduled to depart later in the evening. Chennai Super Kings: Nathan Ellis Delhi Capitals: Mitch Starc, Jake Fraser-McGurk Kolkata Knight Riders: Spencer Johnson Lucknow Super Giants: Justin Langer (coach), Mitch Marsh Punjab Kings: Ricky Ponting (coach), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Owen, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Josh Hazlewood, Tim David Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Adam Zampa
