ISLAMABAD: A Ministry of Religious Affairs official said on Tuesday that the government wanted to extend maximum facilities to Hajj pilgrims with the help of Saudi authorities, adding that the application process for Hajj 2020 was now open in the country and people would be able to submit their documents and dues until March 6.
“People can submit their Hajj application forms online,” Imran Siddiqui, a spokesperson for the ministry, told Arab News. “The online process will help ensure transparency in the government Hajj scheme.”
Earlier this month, the federal cabinet approved the Hajj Policy 2020 under which 179,210 pilgrims will to perform Hajj this year. Sixty percent of them will utilize the government Hajj program while 40 percent will perform their pilgrimage with the help of private Hajj operators.
The ministry said the Hajj package through government scheme would cost Rs490,000 ($3,188) to the intending pilgrims from the country’s northern region and Rs480,000 ($3,123) to those traveling from the southern parts.
The State Bank of Pakistan has already directed 13 authorized banks to keep all their designated branches open on Saturday and Sunday to help the intending pilgrims submit their applications and deposit their dues.
With the help of the Saudi authorities, the ministry is endeavoring to provide maximum facilities to the pilgrims before and during the Hajj season.
The spokesperson said the government had requested the Saudi authorities to include at least four Pakistani airports in the “Makkah Route” project to facilitate pilgrims. “We are hopeful to get a positive response from the Saudi Ministry of Interior by next month,” he said.
Pakistan was formally included in the project last year after a maiden visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the country. Under the project, the customs clearance and immigration of the pilgrims was completed at the Islamabad airport before their departure to Saudi Arabia.
Around 20,000 pilgrims availed this facility last year at the Islamabad airport, and Pakistan now wants the Saudi authorities to expand this facility to at least four other major airports of the country, including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.
The ministry has also signed an agreement with Saudi officials to facilitate the pilgrims during the Hajj in Makkah and Madinah. “A six-member high level committee will be constituted to look after all the issues and complaints of the pilgrims, and resolve them in real time,” Siddiqui said.
He added that the ministry had already signed agreements with the top Saudi companies to provide “the best” accommodation, transportation and food to pilgrims. “We are aiming for zero complaints from pilgrims … and will be providing them all the facilities within our resources,” he said.
Hajj 2020 applications open, Pakistanis can apply by March 6
https://arab.news/5be97
Hajj 2020 applications open, Pakistanis can apply by March 6
- The Ministry of Religious Affairs says online Hajj applications will ensure transparency in the process
- Islamabad requests the Saudi authorities to expand its ‘Makkah Route’ project to four major airports this year
Pakistan showcases smart solutions, tech innovation at ITCN Asia expo in Lahore
- ITCN Asia is Pakistan’s largest information and communications technology exhibition and conference
- It highlights developments in cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI, e-commerce and digital governance
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is showcasing its growing technology sector at the 27th edition of ITCN Asia at the Expo Center in Lahore, bringing together innovators, startups, investors and policymakers for one of the country’s premier technology exhibitions, Pakistani state media reported on Saturday.
ITCN Asia is Pakistan’s largest information and communications technology exhibition and conference, which is regularly held to highlight developments in fields including cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and digital governance.
The three-day event, which began on Saturday, focuses on networking, knowledge-sharing and lead generation, with conferences facilitating a learning environment for tech enthusiasts and professionals.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja called ITCN Asia a “distinguished” global event showcasing tech advancement in Pakistan, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Pakistan’s use of cybersecurity has put the country on the forefront of technological advancement and strengthened global trust in our technology sector,” she was quoted as saying.
The exhibition features more than 850 booths, over 3,000 global brands, international delegates, investors and government leaders, according to the organizers.
Pakistan’s Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) is showcasing electric vehicle and electronics assembly by global brands, including BYD, Samsung and Google at the exhibition.
The STZA has set up a national pavilion at the exhibition with facilitation from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), according to a statement issued by the cabinet division.
The move is part of Pakistan’s efforts to boost foreign investment in its technology sector as the country’s startups and software houses have attracted global interest in recent years. Pakistan’s IT exports rose by $180 million to $1,057 million during
July-September last year, compared with $877 million in the same period of 2024, according to the information technology ministry.
Pakistan’s technology sector is also advancing in AI and cloud computing, marked by the launch of Pakistan’s first sovereign AI cloud in November, designed to keep sensitive data domestic and support growth in the broader digital ecosystem.
