ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs launched four smartphone apps to facilitate Hajj pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
“The purpose is to provide guidance to pilgrims and help them in every possible way,” Imran Siddiqui, the ministry’s spokesperson told Arab News on Monday.
Siddiqui said that the Rehnuma-e-Hajj (Guidance for Hajj) app is very useful as it provides information about the complete set of rituals during the pilgrimage. “We have uploaded a comprehensive booklet and documentary about Hajj, so everything related to Hajj is in this app,” he said.
Additionally, the Hajj Muavineen (Hajj helpers) app includes information about paramedics and other staff that have been deputed by the Pakistani government to assist the pilgrims, while the Mina Locator app will help them find the routes to different camps in Mina and other locations.
The fourth app, termed Hajj Complaints, can be used by pilgrims “to register complaints.”
Pakistan began its Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia from July 4 for its 200,000 nationals performing Hajj this year.
For the purpose, a team of Saudi officials had visited the capital in the last week of June to install an immigration system at the Islamabad International Airport.
The move, part of the ‘Road to Makkah’ project, follows Pakistan’s inclusion in the initiative as per the directives of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during his visit to the country in February this year.
According to the religious ministry, more than 25,000 pilgrims from Pakistan have already reached Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage this year.
Four smartphone apps launched to facilitate Hajj pilgrims, says religious ministry
Four smartphone apps launched to facilitate Hajj pilgrims, says religious ministry
- Move aimed at facilitating nationals during their stay in Saudi Arabia
- More than 200,000 expected to perform the pilgrimage this year
Daesh media chief for ISKP in Pakistan’s custody — state media
- Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior member of ISKP, used to head its Al Azzam media outlet, says state media
- Azzam was arrested in May while attempting to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan, says state media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have taken into custody Sultan Aziz Azzam, the head of Daesh regional affiliate ISKP’s media outlet, state media reported on Thursday citing intelligence sources.
The state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported that Azzam was a senior member of ISKP and hailed from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. As per the state media report, he is also a graduate of the University of Nangarhar where he studied Islamic jurisprudence.
Pakistan TV Digital reported Azzam joined ISKP in 2016 and later became a prominent member of its leadership council.
“He was arrested in May 2025 while attempting to cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan,” Pakistan TV Digital reported, citing intelligence sources.
“He is believed to have overseen media operations and headed ISKP’s Al Azzam media outlet.”
In November 2021, Washington listed Azzam as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” (SDGT). The move bars American citizens from engaging in transactions with persons designated as SDGTs.
According to a report on the UN Security Council’s website, Azzam has played an “instrumental role” in spreading Daesh’s violent ideology, glorifying and justifying “terrorist acts.”
“Building on his former experience as an Afghan journalist, his activity as ISIL-K’s spokesperson has increased ISIL-K’s visibility and influence among its followers,” the report states.
The report further states Azzam claimed responsibility on behalf of Daesh for the suicide attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, which killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 US service members and injured 150 more.
The development takes place amid tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad alleging militants use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations.
Tensions surged in October when Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in fierce border clashes, claiming to have killed dozens of soldiers of the other side.
Pakistan has urged the Afghan Taliban-led government to take “decisive action” against militants it says operate from its soil. Afghanistan says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.
