LAHORE: The annual Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah constitutes the world’s largest multicultural religious event, posing a significant challenge to the authorities in Saudi Arabia who are always trying to find innovative ways to make the spiritual journey of pilgrims as pleasant as possible.
The Kingdom deployed hundreds of youthful individuals who spoke different languages to assist people from various parts of the world at its airports in Makkah and Madinah this year. It also used mobile applications that could be operated by those performing Hajj in their own language.
Given the composition of pilgrims arriving from different countries, Urdu acquired tremendous significance at the annual Islamic event.
Pakistani nationals usually constitute the third largest group – after Saudis and Indonesians – participating in the event. This year alone 200,000 of them went to the Kingdom to attend the ritual.
Urdu is also accessible to many pilgrims from India who do not understand English or other Hajj languages used to manage the incoming traffic of devout Muslims.
In view of this fact, Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Ministry launched a Twitter service to answer pilgrims’ basic questions in Urdu, along with 12 other languages. The service began with hundreds of tweets accompanied by the Arabic hashtag #Your_Hajj_in_your_Own_Language.
The Kingdom also launched the Arafat Sermon app, which offered live translation of the Hajj sermon in different languages, including Urdu.
The Hajj authorities also introduced two interactive apps that could be easily operated by speakers of Urdu language to help pilgrims, with a range of services on smart devices including help in finding emergency service centers, holy sites, currency exchanges, restaurants and accommodation.
For its part, Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry also tasked nearly 4,800 Pakistanis, including 88 women, to provide guidance, awareness and emergency services in Urdu to Hajj pilgrims from the country.
There were also other apps – such as the Mina Locator – designed in Urdu to help pilgrims find their tents and places of accommodation in Makkah and the holy sites of Mina and Arafat.
How Urdu became a major Hajj language in 2019
How Urdu became a major Hajj language in 2019
- The annual Muslim ritual is the most culturally diverse religious event in the world
- Urdu is one of the top languages used to facilitate pilgrims in Saudi Arabia
IMF Executive Board to review $1.2 billion loan disbursement for Pakistan today
- Pakistan, IMF reached a Staff-Level Agreement in October for second review of $7 billion Extended Fund, climate fund program
- Economists view IMF bailout packages as essential for cash-strapped Pakistan grappling with a prolonged macroeconomic crisis
ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to meet in Washington today to review a $1.2 billion loan disbursement for Pakistan, state media reported on Monday.
Pakistan and the IMF reached a Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) in October for the second review of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the first review of its $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The agreement between the two sides took place after an IMF mission, led by the international lender’s representative Iva Petrova, held discussions with Pakistani authorities during a Sept. 24–Oct. 8 visit to Karachi, Islamabad and Washington D.C.
“The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board is set to meet in Washington today to review and approve $1.2 billion in loan for Pakistan,” state broadcaster Pakistan TV reported.
Pakistan has been grappling with a prolonged macroeconomic crisis that has drained its financial resources and triggered a balance of payments crisis for the past couple of years. Islamabad, however, has reported some financial gains since 2022, which include recording a surplus in its current account and bringing inflation down considerably.
Economists view the IMF’s bailout packages as crucial for cash-strapped Pakistan, which has relied heavily on financing from bilateral partners such as Saudi Arabia, China and the United Arab Emirates, as well as multilateral lenders including the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank.
Speaking to Arab News last month, Pakistan’s former finance adviser Khaqan Najeeb said the $1.2 billion disbursement will further stabilize Pakistan’s near-term external position and unlock additional official inflows.
“Continued engagement also reinforces macro stability, as reflected in recent improvements in inflation, the current account, and reserve buffers,” Najeeb said.
Pakistan came close to sovereign default in mid-2023, when foreign exchange reserves fell below three weeks of import cover, inflation surged to a record 38% in May, and the country struggled to secure external financing after delays in its IMF program. Fuel shortages, import restrictions, and a rapidly depreciating rupee added to the pressure, while ratings agencies downgraded Pakistan’s debt and warned of heightened default risk.
The crisis eased only after Pakistan reached a last-minute Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in June 2023, unlocking emergency support and preventing an immediate default.
