logo
Pakistan vows more facilities for elderly pilgrims in ‘even better' Hajj 2026

Pakistan vows more facilities for elderly pilgrims in ‘even better' Hajj 2026

Arab News17-06-2025
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Director General Hajj Abdul Wahab Soomro this week vowed that the government would try to ensure next year's pilgrimage is 'even better' for pilgrims, promising more facilities for the elderly ones.
This year's Hajj took place from June 4 to June 9, drawing millions of pilgrims to the holy cities in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan sent over 115,000 pilgrims under both the government and private schemes.
Speaking at a ceremony held to acknowledge the services of the Pakistani welfare staff during Hajj in Makkah, Soomro said the government introduces new measures every Hajj for its pilgrims and would continue to do so.
'In the next Hajj, we will try to make it even better,' Soomro said on Monday. 'We will try to ensure that aged pilgrims, for example, are not allocated a room above the first floor.'
The Pakistani official said the government would also try to ensure that elderly pilgrims are provided accommodations close to the Mashair, or holy sites in Makkah, for their convenience.
'So, these small things that we are adding every year are enriching the overall experience of the pilgrim,' Soomro said.
Dr. Syed Ata ur Rehman, Pakistan's secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, also spoke at the event. He reminded authorities that the post-Hajj flight operation will continue until the last Pakistani pilgrim and welfare staff return to the country.
'Therefore, the remaining part of the operation should be carried out with the same diligence, attention and caution so that the glory of this success does not diminish,' Rehman told participants.
Pakistan began its post-Hajj flight operation with the arrival of the Pakistan International Airline flight PK-732 in Islamabad on June 11, carrying 307 pilgrims. The country is expected to conclude the operation on July 10.
Over 11,400 pilgrims, including around 3,000 from Madinah, have returned to Pakistan so far, as per figures provided by Pakistan's religious affairs minister.
The government has announced it has begun preparations for Hajj 2026 as it has received the Saudi Hajj policy and timeline for next year's pilgrimage.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kawir Palace provides architectural insights into Makkah's heritage
Kawir Palace provides architectural insights into Makkah's heritage

Arab News

time3 hours ago

  • Arab News

Kawir Palace provides architectural insights into Makkah's heritage

RIYADH: The city of Makkah features numerous historical landmarks that reflect its urban development and architectural uniqueness. Among these is Kawir Palace, also known as Biban Palace, one of the oldest and most notable historical palaces. It embodies authentic architectural elements and symbolizes the social and cultural diversity of the early 20th century, serving as a model of local architecture connected to social changes in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Owned by a local merchant nicknamed Kawir because of his trade in limestone quarrying, a prevalent building material, the palace's architecture and strategic location in Makkah's prominent Biban area highlight its significance. The palace was built between 1910 and 1920 and is on a hill overlooking the historic Biban area, offering panoramic views, the SPA added. After restoration, the palace could serve as a museum of traditional Makkah architecture, a community cultural center, or a luxury heritage guesthouse for experiential tourism. The construction used local materials and techniques, including local stone for the foundation, limestone for wall insulation, and clay, wood, and gypsum for interiors. Indian teak wood was used for some doors and windows, while the facades featured carved wooden windows (roshan) and geometric motifs. The ceilings feature handmade gypsum decorations, reflecting local craftsmanship. The palace comprises five floors, featuring spacious halls, reception areas, and internal courtyards for ventilation, according to the report. The palace provides valuable architectural lessons, particularly in the integration of form and function. Traditional methods offer solutions for ventilation, privacy, and thermal insulation, emphasizing local identity over imported styles. After restoration, the palace could serve as a museum of traditional Makkah architecture, a community cultural center, or a luxury heritage guesthouse for experiential tourism.

Pakistan suspends road travel to Iran, Iraq citing security concerns
Pakistan suspends road travel to Iran, Iraq citing security concerns

Arab News

time9 hours ago

  • Arab News

Pakistan suspends road travel to Iran, Iraq citing security concerns

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on Sunday that the government will not allow pilgrims to travel to Iran and Iraq by road for the Arbaeen pilgrimage this year, citing public safety and national security concerns for the ban. Thousands of Pakistani citizens visit Iran and Iraq annually for religious tourism and to visit religious sites, including observing Arbaeen (Arabic for 'forty'), a significant religious occasion in Shia Islam. It marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussain, who was 'martyred' in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Travelers to Iran and Iraq by road have often been targeted in sectarian attacks by armed groups in Pakistan's restive southwestern Balochistan province, which shares a border with Iran. Islamabad's decision comes in the wake of a rise in militant attacks in the province by ethnic Baloch militant groups, who demand a greater share of the province's mineral resources from Islamabad. 'After extensive consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Balochistan Government, and security agencies, it has been decided that Zaireen will not be allowed to travel to Iraq and Iran by road for Arbaeen this year,' Naqvi wrote on X. After extensive consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Balochistan Government, and security agencies, it has been decided that Zaireen will not be allowed to travel to Iraq and Iran by road for Arbaeen this year. This difficult decision was taken in the interest of… — Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) July 27, 2025 The interior minister said this 'difficult decision' was taken in the interest of public safety and national security. However, he said Shia pilgrims will be allowed to travel by air to Iran and Iraq. 'Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to arrange maximum flights to facilitate their pilgrimage in the coming days,' he wrote. A Pakistani immigration official told Arab News earlier this month that Islamabad plans to overhaul its pilgrimage travel policy to Iraq, Iran and Syria after authorities confirmed around 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims went missing or overstayed in the three countries over the past decade. Pakistan's Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf revealed this month that 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims had either overstayed or gone missing in these countries without any official record of their whereabouts. In response, Pakistani authorities have scrapped the long-standing 'Salar system,' in which private group leaders managed travel logistics, and are introducing a new centralized, computerized structure to track and regulate pilgrim movement more effectively. Mustafa Jamal Kazi, Pakistan's director general of Immigration and Passports, said a new Ziyarat Management Policy has been finalized by the government under which pilgrims will only be allowed to travel in organized groups, and licensed tour operators will be held directly responsible for ensuring that all group members return to Pakistan before their visas expire. Any operator found violating the policy or failing to ensure the return of all pilgrims will have their license canceled.

Glacial floods alert issued for northwest Pakistan with more heavy rain forecast
Glacial floods alert issued for northwest Pakistan with more heavy rain forecast

Arab News

timea day ago

  • Arab News

Glacial floods alert issued for northwest Pakistan with more heavy rain forecast

PESHAWAR: Pakistan on Saturday warned of glacial flooding in the northwest with more rain forecast for the area in the coming week. Downpours are heavier in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province than the same period last year, prompting weather adviseries and alerts for flooding from glacial lake outbursts, said Anwar Shahzad, a spokesperson for the local disaster management authority. A letter from the authority sent out mid-July said 'persistent high temperatures may accelerate snow and glacier melt and subsequent weather events' in vulnerable parts of the region. Dr. Abdul Samad, from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Department, said rescue teams evacuated more than 500 holidaymakers from Naran after a cloudburst overnight Friday caused a road closure. Authorities deployed heavy machinery to remove debris and restore access. In the neighboring Gilgit-Baltistan region, the government said it had distributed hundreds of tents, thousands of food packets, and medicine to flood-affected communities. Spokesperson Faizullah Firaq said Saturday there was 'severe destruction' in some areas and damage to houses, infrastructure, crops, and businesses. Search operations were underway to find missing people on the Babusar Highway, where flooding struck nine villages. Helicopters rescued tourists stuck in the popular spot of Fairy Meadows, he added. Pakistan has received above-normal rainfall this monsoon season, raising concerns of a repeat of the devastating 2022 floods that submerged a third of the country and killed 1,737 people. Some 260 have died across Pakistan so far this season, which runs through to mid-September. Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, but one of the lowest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store