Islamabad to send 552 medics to Saudi Arabia to assist Pakistani Hajj pilgrims

Saudi team is lead by director immigrations Major General Sulaiman Al-Yahya is in Pakistan on a three-day visit to oversee arrangements for Hajj pilgrims (Photo Courtesy – Saudi Embassy in Islamabad)

A delegation from Saudi Arabia is in Pakistan on a three-day visit to oversee arrangements for Hajj pilgrims. The measure is part of the Saudi “Road to Makkah” project aimed at facilitating Hajj pilgrims from around the Muslim world (Photo Courtesy – Ministry of religious affairs)

• Saudi delegation in Pakistan on three-day visit to inspect immigration arrangements for Hajjis
• Visit is part of the Saudi “Road to Makkah Project” aimed at facilitating Hajj pilgrims from across the Muslim world

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will send a 552-member medical team to Saudi Arabia to take care of Pakistani pilgrims, a spokesman for the Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Tuesday during a three-day visit of Saudi passport officials to Pakistan to evaluate immigration facilities for Hajjis.
The Saudi team is lead by director immigrations Major General Sulaiman Al-Yahya and will survey airports in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar to inspect arrangement for Pakistanis travelling to perform Hajj, the yearly pilgrimage of observant Muslims to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, is also a part of the delegation-level talks.
Imran Siddique, the religion ministry spokesman, said Pakistani officials on Tuesday briefed the Saudi delegation about arrangements for Hajj, including an orientation training programme planned for pilgrims.
“The government will also send a 552-member medical team to Saudi Arabia for Pakistani pilgrims,” Siddique said. “For food [arrangements], Pakistan is in talks with 12 companies in Makkah and 13 in Madinah.
He said Pakistan was also trying to procure 200 buildings to be used by Hajj pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah.
The visit is part of the Saudi “Road to Makkah Project” which Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in February formally granted permission for Pakistan to be included in. The project aims at facilitating Hajj pilgrims from across the Muslim world. The crown prince also announced during his February visit to Islamabad that all pilgrims traveling from Pakistan could now clear immigration at local airports in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar.