ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Hajj pilgrims widely appreciated the Kingdom’s ‘Road to Makkah’ project, with several lauding the pre-departure and immigration facilities made available at the Islamabad airport, as the country flies five to six Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia every day, officials told Arab News.
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MRA), a total of 39,853 Hajj pilgrims from across the country reached Saudi Arabia by Monday.
“More than thousand Hajj pilgrims are getting their pre-departure immigration clearance daily at Islamabad airport under Road to Makkah project,” said Imran Siddique, spokesperson for the MRA.
“The most beautiful part of my journey to Saudi Arabia is that all officials [at the Islamabad airport] provided us great help under the Road to Makkah project,” Brig. (r) Nasir Zia, one of the pilgrims who reached Madinah last week, said in a video message.
“The Saudi officials also gave us personal attention [at the Islamabad airport], immigration process was smooth and we reached here [in Madinah] without any hassle,” he said.
Pakistan began Hajj flights for its 200,000 nationals on July 4.
Under the Road to Makkah project – an initiative aimed at facilitating Hajj pilgrims from across the Muslim world – around 22,000 Pakistani pilgrims can avail the pre-departure immigration clearance at the Islamabad airport.
Saudi immigration team is working round the clock at the Islamabad airport to facilitate Hajj pilgrims. “We are getting positive feedback from our pilgrims [about the Road to Makkah initiative],” said Siddique, adding that he hoped “this facility will also be extended to other airports of Pakistan in coming years.”
Providing details of other facilities available under the project, he said that a make-shift hospital and two field units have been set up in Madinah – as part of the Pakistan Hajj Medical Mission – wherein 19 doctors and 34 paramedical staff have been deputed to provide timely medical facilities to the pilgrims.
Siddique added that a total of 13 catering companies have been providing quality food to all the pilgrims at their residences while 115 government officials are deployed to help in case of any emergency.
A team of Saudi officials had earlier set up special immigration counters at the Islamabad airport to help pilgrims save on 10 to 12 hours of waiting time at Saudi airports. Pakistan was included in the project after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman concluded his visit to the country in February this year.
Lauding the quality of food and accommodation provided by the Kingdom, Muhammad Akmal Khan who reached Madinah on July 5 for the pilgrimage said in a video message: “We are staying here in a five-star hotel … being kept like princes and kings. We are feeling like home here.”
“We have no complaints. The staff is very cooperative here,” Shaukat Ali, another pilgrim said.
All pre-Hajj flight operations in Pakistan will conclude on August 5, while post-Hajj flights will operate from August 17 to September 14 this year.
More than 1000 Pakistani pilgrims benefiting from ‘Road to Makkah’ program every day
More than 1000 Pakistani pilgrims benefiting from ‘Road to Makkah’ program every day
- Pilgrims praise Saudi officials for giving personal attention, running a smooth immigration process in Islamabad
- Nearly 40,000 Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan reached Saudi Arabia by Monday
Pakistan partners with Meta to roll out AI program for teachers’ training
- Around 300 Higher Education Commission members have so far been trained through the program
- The development comes as the country embraces AI across education, industry and government
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) has launched an artificial intelligence (AI) program in collaboration with American tech giant Meta and Atomcamp ed-tech platform to upgrade skills of university faculty in line with modern technology, state media reported on Friday.
Around 300 HEC members have so far been trained by Atomcamp, which offers services in AI, data science and analytics, enhancing their professional skills and laying the groundwork for the use of modern technology in higher education.
Pakistan has been increasingly embracing AI across education, industry and government, with startups developing solutions for finance, health care and e-commerce, and policymakers planning to integrate AI into public service and digital infrastructure.
“Under this initiative, Atomcamp provided advanced training on AI to faculty members across Pakistan, while HEC provided the necessary support and partnership for this program,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported.
“The main objective of this program is to enhance the skills of teaching staff in universities across the country and align the quality of teaching with modern requirements.”
The government plans to introduce more AI and emerging technology programs to bring Pakistani universities at par with global standards, according to the report.
In August last year, Pakistan unveiled its first National Artificial Intelligence Policy to develop AI infrastructure, train one million people in related skills and ensure responsible, ethical use of the technology.
The policy outlines six pillars, including AI innovation, public awareness, secure systems, sectoral transformation, infrastructure and international partnerships, for advancement in the country.
