Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf said the government had taken the best possible measures for Hajj pilgrims this year, Express News said on Friday.
Addressing journalists during a visit to the Haji camp in Karachi, Yousuf said he was there to inspect the training sessions for pilgrims. He added that ministry staff were on site for briefs and make sure they were well prepared for the trip.
According to the minister, 89,000 pilgrims will perform the Hajj this year as part of the government program. He assured that all the preparations had been finalized, with a particular emphasis on the supply of maximum installations and to avoid any drawback.
“The Prime Minister ordered me to ensure that pilgrims have faced any difficulty,” he said, adding that the experience between 2013 and 2018 had helped improve this year’s plan.
Yousuf said 21,600 pilgrims would start from Karachi, with arrangements in Makkah and Aziziyah, including good quality accommodation and split air conditioning. He said additional installations such as improved shelves and transport had also been included in new agreements.
Each group of pilgrims would have an designated supervisor to solve any problem on site, confirmed the minister.
Earlier, the Saudi authorities had announced its intention to establish rest areas for pilgrims at various times in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah during the annual hajj pilgrimage.
The decision was divided during a briefing to Prince Saud Bin Mishaal, the vice-governor of Mecca, concerning the preparations for the next Hajj season.
The officials said that 50,000 square meters of shaded gateways are under construction for pedestrians in Mina, while 60,000 square meters of shelters and mist fans are installed around Jabal al-Rahmah in Arafat.
