https://arab.news/gcbs6
- Religious affairs minister says mobile app would be developed to track pilgrims’ movements, financial transactions
- Pakistan’s IT minister says a web portal featuring ‘independent reviews’ from pilgrims would also be developed
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Aneeq Ahmed unveiled a plan to “fully digitize” the country’s Hajj operation on Wednesday, saying that it would include a mobile application that offers pilgrims comprehensive information and tracking features during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
The development follows Ahmed’s week-long visit to the Kingdom last week, during which he engaged in discussions with senior Saudi government officials on enhancing facilities for Pakistani pilgrims and exploring the potential expansion of the Makkah Route Initiative.
Ahmed met Information Technology Minister Umar Saif on Wednesday, Pakistan’s IT ministry said. During the meeting, the religious affairs minister discussed strategies to improve and modernize the Hajj operation.
“A live mobile app will be developed for the convenience of pilgrims in which all details and tracking will be possible, a statement from the religion ministry quoted Ahmed as saying.
“We want Hajj operations to be completely digitized and made end-to-end paperless,” Ahmed said, adding that a computerized system will also be created which would help pilgrims keep track of their financial transactions and movements during Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The statement further added that the management information system of private Hajj groups would be made more functional.
Meanwhile, Saif said Pakistan would develop a web portal which would feature “independent reviews” from pilgrims, according to the IT ministry.
“Through this system, pilgrims and pilgrims will be able to give their feedback digitally regarding Hajj operations and facilities,” the IT minister quoted Saif as saying.
Hajj is an obligatory religious ritual for adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable, which involves visiting the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah at least once in their lifetime during the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar, known as Dhu Al-Hijjah.
Over 81,000 Pakistani pilgrims performed the pilgrimage under the government scheme this year while the rest, from a total quota of 179,210, performed Hajj via private tour operators.