Saudi consortium launches $50 million fund to ease pilgrimage costs for Pakistanis — CEO
The consortium includes online Umrah booking platform Funadiq.com, Emaar Al Diyafa Group of hotels, Skyline Travel Company and other firms operating in Makkah. Its stated goal is to modernize the infrastructure and operations of Pakistani travel agencies to help them meet Saudi regulatory standards and better serve pilgrims.
The consortium's CEO Mohammad Salman Arain told Arab News the main objective behind setting up the fund is to upgrade travel agencies' infrastructure and operations in every major Pakistani city.
He said the fund is expected to lower Hajj costs by 20 percent and Umrah costs by 25 percent for Pakistani pilgrims.
'On average, [Umrah for one person] is Rs300,000 ($1,054) and we expect that by September, a small travel agent would be able to offer it to his customers at Rs240,000 ($844) to Rs250,000 ($879),' Arain said in a telephone interview on Monday.
Arain attributed the current high costs to inefficiencies in the way many Pakistani travel agents operate:
'Once we help them operate better then Umrah will become cheaper for our pilgrims.'
His company, Umrah Companions, also launched what it calls the world's first AI-powered Umrah agent this month, designed to help digitally savvy pilgrims customize their travel packages based on cost and convenience.
The consortium will also help Pakistani Hajj organizers adapt to Saudi Arabia's evolving regulations.
'This should make Hajj better organized and cheaper as well,' Arain said.
In a separate statement, Funadiq.com said over 2 million Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia each year for pilgrimage and spend more than $5 billion annually, making Pakistan one of the world's largest pilgrimage markets.
'Yet despite these numbers, the sector continues to suffer from poor management,' the company said. 'More than 67,000 pilgrims missed Hajj this year alone.'
That figure refers to a large portion of Pakistan's private Hajj quota that went unutilized this year due to reported delays by travel companies in completing payment and registration requirements, according to Funadiq.com.
Private operators have blamed the shortfall on technical glitches, payment delays, and poor coordination between service providers. Pakistan's government fulfilled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.
The Saudi consortium's investment will be used for technology upgrades, staff training, and process improvements in small- and medium-sized travel agencies. These improvements could make the booking process 50 percent faster, Funadiq.com said.
'We are stepping in to help change that, working closely with the government, airlines, and private sector partners,' the company added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
27 minutes ago
- Arab News
Pakistan launches simplified digital tax system as part of $47 billion revenue drive
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will launch simplified digital tax returns for salaried individuals today, Tuesday, the prime minister's office announced, in a move aimed at increasing tax compliance and widening the country's historically narrow tax base. The launch is part of a broader reform effort tied to the government's economic stabilization agenda and structural benchmarks under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. Despite a population of more than 240 million, Pakistan has one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the region, with only a small percentage of citizens filing returns. At a meeting to review progress on tax reforms, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was briefed that besides the new tax system for the salaried class, user-friendly, digital tax return forms would also be made available to other taxpayer categories from July 30. Urdu-language versions will be introduced to increase accessibility for salaried individuals. 'A third-party validation should be ensured for the transparency of all FBR reforms,' the prime minister was quoted as saying by his office. 'Public awareness campaign should be launched regarding the ease of filing tax returns so that more and more people file returns under the new system.' In June, the government set a record-high tax collection target of Rs14.13 trillion ($47.4 billion) for the fiscal year 2025–26, marking a 9 percent increase from the previous year. Officials say meeting this goal is essential to reducing reliance on external debt and ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability. Sharif emphasized that expanding the tax net and easing the burden on low-income groups were key policy priorities. He also praised the FBR for deploying artificial intelligence in tax assessments, calling it a 'milestone' in modernizing the country's tax infrastructure. 'The prime minister directed provision of special facilities to small and medium-sized businesses to join the digital invoicing system,' the statement from his office said. IMF country representative Mahir Binici said last week Pakistan's recent reforms had helped restore macroeconomic stability and rebuild investor confidence but warned that global uncertainty continued to pose significant risks. 'Structural reforms remain central to Pakistan's long-term economic sustainability, particularly reforms that strengthen tax equity, improve the business climate, and encourage private-sector-led investment,' Binici said during a recent lecture at an Islamabad-based think tank. He added that geopolitical tensions, weakening global cooperation and external shocks required governments like Pakistan's to take prudent, forward-looking actions to shield their economies.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
‘Generational benefits' from Reko Diq mines will uplift conflict-hit Balochistan — Barrick CEO
QUETTA: The chief executive of Canadian mining firm Barrick Gold said this week the multibillion-dollar Reko Diq copper and gold project in Pakistan's Balochistan province will deliver 'generational benefits' to the impoverished, conflict-hit region, as he met residents of Humai village near the mine site. The Reko Diq project, jointly owned by Barrick and the governments of Pakistan and Balochistan, is one of the world's largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits. Long delayed by legal disputes and concerns over foreign investment, the mine is seen as a potential economic game changer in a province that has long suffered from poverty, underdevelopment, and armed separatist violence. Balochistan, Pakistan's largest but least populated province, has for years seen unrest rooted in demands for greater autonomy and a larger share of natural resource revenues. Separatist militants have regularly targeted infrastructure, Chinese investments, and security forces. Against this backdrop, Barrick has emphasized its commitment to inclusive and transparent development. 'Reko Diq is not just a mining project; it is a multi-generational opportunity that promises sustained economic and social development for local communities for decades to come,' Barrick CEO Mark Bristow said in a statement on Monday released after he visited Humai, the closest village to the project site in District Chagai. Bristow met local elders and development committee members, reaffirming the company's goal to invest in job creation, skills training, education, and health care for Baloch communities. 'We are creating job opportunities not only through RDMC but also through our large network of partner and supplier companies that are coming onboard to support this major development,' Bristow said. 'Currently, 75 percent of our workforce is from Balochistan — the majority from District Chagai — and we aim to continue strengthening this local representation.' Bristow also highlighted recent investments in health care, including a new Mother and Child Health Center in Humai that offers maternal care services — the first such facility of its kind in the area. 'No meaningful development of this world-class mineral resource can happen without the active involvement and support of the people who live here,' he said. Humai village chief Liaqat Malik and Par-e-Koh Community Development Committee Chairman Taj Muhammad thanked Bristow and RDMC for their engagement and development work, pledging continued community support for the project, according to the Barrick statement. The Reko Diq project is expected to begin production by 2028 and generate thousands of jobs while significantly boosting Pakistan's export revenues. The Pakistani government has said it will ensure environmental protections and fair distribution of project benefits, though watchdog groups continue to call for greater transparency and community participation in oversight.
Arab News
10 hours ago
- Arab News
From Nigeria to Makkah, sereh finds a home on Saudi tables
RIYADH: Sereh, a beloved African dish rooted in Nigerian tradition, has carved out a place for itself in the culinary landscape of Saudi Arabia. Once popular as a street food in Makkah's older neighborhoods such as Al-Mansour, Al-Hafayer, and Al-Barno, sereh has grown beyond its origins to reflect a story of migration, cultural exchange, and shared taste. Traditionally, sereh — also known as tsire or suya — consists of skewered beef seasoned with a bold blend of African spices, then roasted over an open flame. This method creates not only a flavorful dish but an aromatic experience that draws people in. 'Tamiz, or Afghani bread, was also a street food, so they were often enjoyed together,' said Rodwan Fallatah, owner of the African restaurant AfriQ in Riyadh. Sereh's journey from West African street stalls to Saudi dinner tables captures the essence of Makkah's openness. 'You roast the sereh until it's hot, and with tamiz nearby, you simply grab some hot bread to enjoy with it.' The dish originates from the Hausa tribe, an ethnic group with a strong presence in northern Nigeria, southern Niger, and beyond. 'As a proud member of the Hausa tribe, I take great pride in seeing our traditional dish being enjoyed far beyond Hausa land, reaching communities across Africa and even here in Saudi Arabia,' said Zainab Hawsawi, a Saudi writer and businesswoman. She noted that the typical Hausa kitchen is a treasure trove of rich and diverse flavors, featuring meat dishes like dambu nama, delicately shredded and seasoned dried beef; kilishi, thinly sliced, spiced, and sun-dried meat; and balangu, famous for its juicy, freshly grilled pieces. 'But nothing compares to the explosion of flavors you experience when eating suya, especially as you dip each piece into yaji, the signature blend of spicy suya dipping spices,' she added. The introduction of sereh to Saudi Arabia is believed to be linked to the Hajj pilgrimage, when people from across the world brought with them their cultural traditions, including food. Sereh gradually integrated into the local food scene, creating a fusion of flavors that captivated the taste buds of residents. 'I think the logical answer would be migration,' said Fallatah, emphasizing how pilgrims helped introduce the dish into Makkah's multicultural food scene. Makkah, long regarded as a cultural crossroads, provided fertile ground for this culinary exchange. As locals encountered new dishes, they began to experiment and adapt. Originally from Madinah, Fallatah moved to Riyadh in 1997 and opened AfriQ, where he serves sereh among other dishes. His passion for African cuisine has made his restaurant a popular spot for both locals and visitors. 'The spices are unique, and the preparation of sereh is different. Locals observe and learn, and soon they want to try it themselves,' he explained, noting that demand is especially strong in hotels catering to pilgrims and tourists. Sereh's journey from West African street stalls to Saudi dinner tables captures the essence of Makkah's openness and the Kingdom's growing embrace of cultural diversity through food. As it continues to evolve, sereh stands as a flavorful reminder of how Saudi kitchens are becoming more globally inspired — one skewer at a time.
