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
JazzCash signs deal with Binance in UAE to explore regulated crypto adoption in Pakistan
- MoU focuses on awareness and development of compliant virtual-asset solutions in Pakistan
- Pakistan introducing licensing regime for crypto firms as it formalizes digital-asset oversight
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani financial-technology platform JazzCash has signed a memorandum of understanding with global cryptocurrency exchange Binance in the United Arab Emirates to explore cooperation on virtual-asset use and education in Pakistan, the company said on Wednesday.
The agreement sets a framework for discussions on awareness campaigns and future digital-asset products that would comply with Pakistan’s emerging crypto regulations. The move signals growing engagement between global blockchain companies and Pakistani fintechs as authorities shift toward formal licensing of the sector.
Pakistan has spent the past year drafting rules to regulate the fast-expanding market for digital coins and tokens, requiring virtual-asset service providers to obtain government approval. Officials say the transition is aimed at curbing money-laundering and terror financing risks, boosting transparency and encouraging responsible innovation.
“JazzCash has always championed technologies that expand financial access while promoting secure and inclusive participation in the digital economy," JazzCash Chief Executive Officer Murtaza Ali said.
“By entering into this exploratory MoU with Binance, we are advancing our efforts to understand how global digital-asset trends can support Pakistan’s evolving regulatory landscape. We aim to engage responsibly, support regulatory progress, and advance opportunities that build trust, transparency and innovation for our customers.”
The MoU does not establish a commercial partnership, but marks one of the most high-profile engagements between Pakistan’s fintech sector and a global crypto exchange as the country moves toward regulated digital-asset adoption.
Binance welcomed the cooperation, framing it as part of Pakistan’s shift toward regulated digital-asset activity.
"With regulatory frameworks like [Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority] PVARA paving the way, this collaboration represents a significant step toward expanding financial inclusion and empowering more people to access the benefits of blockchain technology in a secure and compliant environment," Binance Chief Marketing Officer Rachel Conlan said.
Earlier this month, Binance executives met Pakistani finance officials to discuss digital-payments reform, blockchain-skills training and the potential for Web3-linked jobs. Pakistan also set up the Pakistan Crypto Council and formed PVARA this year to license and supervise crypto-asset service providers.
