ISLAMABAD: Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said that the first phase of the “Smart Hajj” initiative helped in the movement, transportation, and safety of pilgrims during Hajj 2019.
Dr. Abdulfattah Mashat, deputy minister of Hajj and Umrah, and Dr. AbdulRahman Aljadhai, CEO of Elm Co., signed two MoUs to develop and operate the electronic platform for subsistence, health, and environment.
Dr. Mashat added that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MHU) is undergoing a digital transformation in cooperation with leading technology companies to promote the concept of using smart solutions to provide high-quality services for the pilgrims.
“It will contribute to improving and enriching pilgrims’ experience in the Kingdom as well as achieve one of the main goals of Saudi Vision 2030,” Dr. Mashat said during a press briefing at GITEX 2019.
“The MHU, in accordance with the instructions and guidance of the Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Mohammad Salih Bentin, has made many strategic partnerships with the private sector to improve the quality of services and the development of ‘Smart Hajj’ solutions, including the signing of MoUs last year with SAP in the field of technology, digital infrastructure, cloud computing, geospatial cloud computing platforms, and smart cards to improve services,” he said.
Dr. Amr Al-Maddah, chief planning and strategy officer at the MHU, said: “Our Smart Hajj ensures that millions of pilgrims from around the world are transported quickly, easily and safely to religious sites on set schedules.”
The “Smart Hajj” initiative documents pilgrims using Internet, geospatial and camera analytics, along with data from the pilgrim experience mobile feedback platform in real-time.
The MHU is one of the participants of GITEX 2019, an annual technological event in Dubai and is showcasing its latest technologies in serving Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
Pakistani nationals usually constitute the third largest group – after Saudis and Indonesians – for the pilgrimage every year, with 200,000 traveling to the Kingdom this year.
In a bid to facilitate pilgrims from Pakistan, authorities at the two holy mosques in Saudi Arabia added six new regional languages, including Urdu, for better communication.
In addition to Urdu, all lectures, speeches, and instructions will now be available in Pashto, Punjabi, and Balochi as well.
‘Smart Hajj’ services to improve pilgrims’ experience
‘Smart Hajj’ services to improve pilgrims’ experience
- Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MHU) is undergoing digital transformation in cooperation with leading technology companies, deputy minister says
- To facilitate Pakistani pilgrims, KSA added six new languages, including Urdu, for better understanding of speeches and instructions
Pakistan expresses solidarity with Canada as school shooting claims 9 lives
- At least 9 dead, 27 wounded in shooting incident at secondary school, residence in British Columbia on Tuesday
- Officials say the shooter was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after the incident
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed solidarity with Canada as a high school shooting incident in a British Columbia town left at least nine dead, more than 20 others injured.
Six people were found at the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School while a seventh died on the way to the hospital, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a statement on Tuesday. Two other people were found dead at a home that police believe is connected to the shooting at the school. A total of 27 people were wounded in the attack.
In an initial emergency alert, police described the suspect as a “female in a dress with brown hair,” with officials saying she was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“Saddened by the tragic shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X.
He conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims, wishing a swift recovery to those injured in the attack.
“Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people and Government of Canada in this difficult time,” he added.
Canadian police have not yet released any information about the age of the shooter or the victims.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “devastated” by the violence, announcing he had suspended plans to travel to the Munich Security Conference on Wednesday.
While mass shootings are rare in Canada, last April, a vehicle attack that targeted a Filipino cultural festival in Vancouver killed 11 people.
British Columbia Premier David Eby called the latest violence “unimaginable.”
Nina Krieger, British Columbia’s minister of public safety, described it as one of the “worst mass shootings” in Canada’s history.
