Pakistan launches Hajj mobile app designed to act as ‘virtual mualim’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday launched a new mobile application for Hajj pilgrims, which Federal IT Minister Dr. Umar Saif described as having been designed to act as a “virtual mualim” to facilitate Pakistanis at all stages of the spiritual journey.

Hajj will fall in June next year, with a quota of 179,210 pilgrims from Pakistan designated by Saudi Arabia. So far, the government has received around 60,000 applications from Pakistanis wanting to perform Hajj under a government scheme. 

Each year, the allotted quota is divided between a government scheme and private tour operators.

“A mobile app has been developed in record time to facilitate Hajj pilgrims under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications,” the IT ministry said in a statement announcing the launch of the app, developed jointly with the National Information Technology Board (NITB).

The app has been designed for both Android and iPhone users and will be available for the public to download a few months before Hajj starts.

Speaking to Arab News at the launch event, Saif said there were “so many little” moving parts to Hajj that one constantly needed a maulim, the Arabic word for teacher, for advice and guidance.

“In this day and age, we have replaced this human interface with an application ... designed to be a virtual mualim who is always with you,” the IT minister said.

“The app learns your behavior. It loads the schedule. It loads the events that take place. It loads the current location, the time and the day, and continuously advises you what to do next.”

He said the app would be able to provide guidance on everything from bus schedules and meals to flights and luggage.

“It is designed for low literacy users because a lot of people going for Hajj, of course, can’t be taught to use an application in English and Urdu,” Said explained. 

“So, the app is designed specifically such that it continues to advise you, whether you are able to use the app or not, prompts you, advises you, proactively so that we make it easy for you to go through the entire process in steps of performing a Hajj.”

Baber Majid Bhatti, CEO of the National Information Technology Board, told Arab News the app also had an offline maps feature to facilitate pilgrims.

“The reason for putting things offline is there is a big risk of pilgrims not being connected with the telephone network and we have suffered this in the past,” Bhatti said. “So to solve this problem we decided to have the maps offline.”

The application will enable pilgrims to view their Hajj application status with real time updates, as well as store all personal information from the application.

“Pilgrims can access information about their Hajj group, including group members’ details. The application enables pilgrims to view their Hajj training schedules, including dates, times, and locations.” the IT ministry statement said.

“The application displays flight details, including flight numbers, departure cities, dates, and times for both departure and return flights. Present information about Makkah and Madinah accommodations, including sector, building, and room details. Additionally, provide information about the Maktab (camp) location.”

The application will also allow pilgrims to check the status of their Hajj dues and refund statuses as well as to submit complaints, requests and general inquiries.

“The application is multilingual and allows pilgrims to switch to their preferred language for easy understanding and usage,” the ministry said. 

“At first two languages (English, Urdu) are added, although the system will have the provision to add more languages.”