The Minister of Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf urged the Pakistani pilgrims of Hajj on Tuesday to respect the laws of Saudi Arabia and to consider themselves ambassadors of their country during their stay in the kingdom.
Speaking during a Hajj training workshop in Islamabad, organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Yousaf stressed the importance of joining local regulations.
Pakistan launched the second compulsory training phase on Tuesday for Hajj pilgrims, after the first phase led earlier this year.
“Hajj pilgrims go as an ambassadors of Pakistan. Take care of the laws there,” the participants told Yousaf. “Do not do anything that will make it lack of respect to your country,” he added.
Yousaf congratulated the Saudi government for its impressive arrangements for pilgrims, referring to the kingdom as a “fraternal country”. He assured that Pakistani officials had examined the Hajj’s arrangements in Saudi Arabia, promising that pilgrims would not face any unpleasant experience.
The Minister also announced that compulsory vaccinations for Pakistani pilgrims would take place on April 20. As part of the requirements set by the Saudi Ministry of Health, pilgrims must comply with strict vaccination protocols to ensure public security.
Mandatory vaccines include meningitis shooting, with additional recommendations for the seasonal flu vaccine. Pilgrims in the regions affected by yellow fever and polio are also necessary to provide vaccination certificates.
These precautions are essential to prevent the spread of infectious diseases during the annual pilgrimage, one of the largest gatherings of people in the world.
Yousaf confirmed that around 90,000 Pakistanis should perform the Hajj this year as part of the government program.
Saudi Arabia allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Pakistan, with half of the quota reserved for the government program and the other half for private arrangements.
