Priority is to serve Islam during Haj: Prince Faisal

Prince Faisal bin Salman

RIYADH: Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has made the Haj pilgrimage a priority to serve Islam and Muslims.
The prince was speaking to key security officials of the Madinah Governorate at his palace in Madinah on Monday.
The meeting was attended by Director of Public Security Lt. Gen. Othman Al-Mihrij, along with the commander of Haj security forces, Lt. Gen. Khalid bin Qarar Al-Harbi.
During the meeting, the governor was briefed on the security plan for the Haj season this year, 1437 A.H., which aims to provide the security and safety for the pilgrims and enable them to perform their Haj rituals with ease and tranquility. The governor confirmed that the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has made the pilgrimage a priority to serve Islam and Muslims, noting the support to the security sectors working during Haj, along with the follow-up by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, deputy premier, minister of interior, who is chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, for the success of plans for this year’s Haj season.
Al-Mihrij on Monday visited the Special Emergency Force’s tactical training field in Al-Madinah. He was accompanied by the commander of the Haj Security Forces, Lt. Gen. Khalid bin Qarar Al-Harbi. During the visit, Lt. General Al-Mihrij inspected the progress of work in the field. The Madinah airport started implementing its Haj plan to prepare for this year’s first batches of pilgrims coming to perform the Haj rituals and visit the holy sites.
The plan includes ensuring smooth movement of pilgrims and the completion of all entry procedures in record time, while ensuring, at the same time, the importance of validating pilgrims’ identities and papers, and keeping in consideration the intensity of visitors flocking to the airport around the clock.
The director of passports at the Madinah airport, Bader Al-Mutairi, said that the airport terminal has created lounges with at least 90 counters operated by staff to receive the pilgrims with their passports, after flight officials have provided data on the flight number and the identity of arrivals.
The counters are being operated by specialized and trained officers who operate specialized equipment installed at the counters such as fingerprinting devices.
All 90 workers at the counters have been trained to compare the image and make sure that it belongs to the holder of the passport.
In case of suspicion, the person will be transferred to a counter-forgery department to check the validity of the data for fraud, and deal with cases according to instructions.
The director of the Passport Institute and commander of the support and assistance force, Maj. Gen. Khalid bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Owais, recently visited Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah to check on the progress of work in the Haj halls, the workers and employees of the passport department, officers and students, instructing them to stand on their preparations for the performance of tasks and duties assigned to them in the reception of pilgrims.