ISLAMABAD: One thousand one hundred and sixty Pakistani expatriates living in Saudi Arabia have joined the Hajj mission as volunteers this year to serve pilgrims arriving from their home country, senior officials told Arab News last week.
After two years of coronavirus restrictions, Saudi Arabia has allowed up to one million Muslims— both from within the kingdom and countries around the world— to perform Hajj. All pilgrims need to be vaccinated, however, and under 65 years of age.
The annual Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith, requiring all physically and financially capable Muslims to visit Makkah at least once in their lifetime to perform the ritual.
Out of 1,160 Pakistani expats serving as volunteers, officials said about 410 had directly joined Pakistan’s Hajj mission run by the country’s Ministry of Religious Affairs while 750 had come from the Saudi-based Pakistani Hajj Volunteers Group (PHVG).
Another 810 volunteers have traveled from Pakistan under the government scheme to serve pilgrims.
“Four hundred and ten Pakistanis who are working in the kingdom have joined our Hajj mission as local volunteers while 810 have come from Pakistan,” Abrar Ahmed Mirza, Pakistan’s director-general of Hajj in Jeddah, told Arab News on Friday.
The volunteers are responsible to ensure the execution of Hajj-related contracts of Pakistan with building, transport, and catering companies, he said.
“They also manage repair work at these buildings and ensure the provision of all necessary facilities there,” Mirza said.
Muhammad Ismail, a central coordinator with the PHVG, said all volunteers had gone through two mandatory training sessions and subsequently passed an online exam before taking up their duties.
“This year around 750 volunteers will work in two separate shifts in Mina and Azizia,” he told Arab News, adding that volunteers would also provide guidance to pilgrims, aid those who were sick or disabled to circumambulate the Holy Kaaba, and take up various distribution projects in Azizia.
“PHVG works under the guidance and complete support of Pakistan’s Hajj Mission,” he added.
Hidayat Ullah, a Pakistani expatriate living in Madinah, said he took leave from his office to join the volunteer mission.
“This is the fourth time I am serving as a volunteer. I am doing this just to serve our country’s pilgrims,” he told Arab News, saying many Pakistani expatriates from Makkah and other parts of Saudi Arabia were working as volunteers for the same reason.
Jawad Shafique, an electrical engineer based in Makkah, said his basic aim was to facilitate pilgrims and ensure they did not face any problems during their stay.
“I am working in the building management department,” he said, “where we ensure the provision of all basic facilities to pilgrims.”