Pakistan minister praises Saudi king, crown prince for providing ‘excellent facilities’ to Hajj pilgrims

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religion minister arrived in Madinah on Thursday to inspect Hajj 2024 arrangements, praising Saudi Arabia’s king and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for ensuring “excellent facilities” were provided to pilgrims ahead of the Islamic pilgrimage. 

Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Pakistan’s religious affairs minister, arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday to inspect Hajj 2024 arrangements for Pakistani pilgrims. The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to the holy places of worship in Makkah and is obligatory on every Muslim adult who is physically and financially able to make the journey. 

Over 15,000 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in the holy city of Madinah from various parts of the country in a month-long flight operation that kicked off on May 9. Pilgrims are expected to depart for Makkah on May 17 after completing an eight-day stay in Madinah. 

“We are thankful to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for providing excellent facilities to Hajj pilgrims,” Salik was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s religion ministry. 

Hussain visited the Pakistan Hajj Mission and reviewed arrangements at the complaint management cell there. 

“Timely redressal of complaints of Hajj pilgrims is proof of the system’s success,” Hussain said. 

The minister said he was satisfied that Pakistani pilgrims were provided accommodations near the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, describing it as a notable achievement of the Pakistan Hajj Mission. 

Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which 63,805 people will perform the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest will use private tour operators.

Pakistan has set up two control rooms, one in Madinah and another at Makkah, to facilitate Hajj pilgrims. This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14-19.