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 PM attends inaugural Gaza peace board meeting as Islamabad backs Palestinian statehood
- Shehbaz Sharif poses with US President Donald Trump, world leaders as meeting kicks off in Washington
- Pakistan’s foreign office says Sharif will also meet senior US leadership, other heads of states on the sidelines
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday arrived at the Donald J. Trump US Institute of Peace to attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, as Islamabad says its participation is aimed at securing a ceasefire, reconstruction and an independent Palestinian state.
The visit comes at Trump’s invitation and will run from Feb. 18–20, according to the Prime Minister’s Office, with Sharif accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior officials.
The Board of Peace, formed under a UN Security Council resolution following a fragile October 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, is intended to oversee international stabilization and rebuilding efforts in Gaza after months of war.
The session began with Trump posing for photographs with world leaders gathered at the venue, including Sharif. The American president was flanked by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a member of the organization’s executive board.
“Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived at the Donald Trump Institute of Peace in Washington to attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace at the invitation of President Trump,” state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported.
Pakistan formally joined the body last month after Sharif signed its charter alongside other world leaders in Davos. The forum includes an eight-nation Muslim bloc comprising Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
“Pakistan joined the Board of Peace as part of its almost eight decades-long support for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people,” Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media Mosharraf Zaidi told Arab News on Wednesday.
“This begins and ends with the establishment of a Palestinian state based on pre 1967 borders and Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.”
Islamabad hopes involvement in the forum will allow it to shape post-war governance arrangements while protecting Palestinian political rights.
“Pakistan’s participation is explicitly tied to a pathway to Palestinian statehood and international law,” Zaidi said.
He added that participation did not signal recognition of Israel.
“Participating in this historic initiative is not recognition of Israel and does not change Pakistan’s principled position on Palestine.”
He also stressed that multilateral engagement does not equal diplomatic normalization.
“Engagement in multilateral mechanisms that includes Israel does not equal diplomatic relations. Israel is a UN member state, and a member of the World Bank and IMF since 1954–but this does not entail normalization.”
Pakistan’s foreign office says the prime minister will also meet senior US leadership and other heads of government on the sidelines.
“The occasion will provide an opportunity for discussions on bilateral matters, as well as global issues of mutual concern,” the PMO statement said.
