ISLAMABAD: Pakistani officials have expressed their support of Saudi Arabia’s decision to restrict this year’s Hajj pilgrimage over public health concerns as the coronavirus is still raging across the globe.
On Saturday, Saudi health authorities announced the kingdom had restricted the pilgrimage to 60,000 citizens and residents for the second year amid the pandemic.
Only people aged between 18 and 65 who have been vaccinated against the virus, and are free of chronic diseases, will be able to take part in the Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
“An appropriate and correct decision has been made, the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia have always served the pilgrims. Shariah also allows to make such decisions in an emergency situation,” Tahir Ashrafi, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special adviser on religious harmony and the Middle East, told Arab News on Sunday.
He added the kingdom’s decision to hold this year’s Hajj amid strict COVID-19 health protocols was to “ensure the safety of pilgrims.”
On Saturday, following Saudi Arabia’s announcement, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a phone conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud.
“The Saudi Foreign Minister apprised Foreign Minister Qureshi about the challenges of organizing Hajj in 2021 and the policy measures taken by the kingdom in the larger interest of public health,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
“Minister Qureshi conveyed his understanding of the situation and expressed confidence in the decisions taken in public interest by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.”
Before the pandemic enforced social distancing globally, some 2.5 million pilgrims used to visit the holiest sites of Islam in Makkah and Medina for the week-long Hajj and the lesser, year-round Umrah pilgrimage.
Pakistan says supports Saudi Arabia's decision to restrict Hajj over coronavirus concerns
https://arab.news/zscs7
Pakistan says supports Saudi Arabia's decision to restrict Hajj over coronavirus concerns
- Saudi Arabia has restricted this year's annual pilgrimage to 60,000 citizens and residents in the kingdom
- Pakistani officials say Saudi's decision taken "in public interest" and to ensure safety of pilgrims
Pakistan, Oman navies discuss maritime security, ink agreement to share shipping data
- Visiting Oman royal navy commander calls on Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf in Islamabad
- White shipping agreement refers to exchange of prior information on movement of commercial ships
ISLAMABAD: The naval commanders of Pakistan and Oman discussed regional maritime security on Wednesday and signed an agreement to share shipping information with each other, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
The press release followed a meeting between Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the visiting Oman Royal Navy Commander Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nasser Bin Mohsin Al Rahbi at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.
Both navies maintain close professional relations, reflected in expert-level staff talks, joint training, bilateral exercises, and participation in multilateral exercises between the Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security and bilateral naval cooperation were discussed,” the Pakistan Navy said.
The MoU was signed by both sides at a ceremony at the Naval Headquarters, the navy’s media wing confirmed.
“The MoU is aimed at establishing of guidelines and procedures for information sharing in order to enhance mutual awareness of white shipping,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
White shipping agreement refers to the exchange of prior information on the movement and identity of commercial non-military merchant vessels.
Information regarding the identity of vessels helps countries tackle potential threats from sea routes. This particularly helps in the development of a proper regional maritime domain awareness
The statement said Al Rahbi lauded Pakistan Navy’s professionalism and acknowledged its ongoing contributions to maritime security and regional stability.
Pakistan and Oman share geographical proximity and common maritime boundaries. Bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries span a wide range of areas, including economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts and strong defense ties.
In December, a Royal Navy flotilla from Oman visited Karachi to take part in the annual bilateral Thamar Al Tayyib (TAT) 2025 exercise.
Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have been conducting the TAT series of exercises regularly since 1980.
