ISLAMABAD: Pakistani officials and pilgrims on Sunday praised the Saudi authorities for their efforts to make Umrah more accessible to Muslims across the world, calling the recent reduction in the cost of comprehensive insurance by 63 percent a “generous gesture.”
Last week, the kingdom’s ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced a major decrease in the insurance rate for pilgrims from SR235 to SR87.
The decision was part of several steps taken by the Saudi authorities to facilitate Umrah pilgrims, including an extension in the visa validity period from 30 to 90 days and allowing women to perform pilgrimage without a male guardian.
“The Saudi government is to be praised for their efforts in making Umrah more accessible to pilgrims from abroad,” Hamzah Gilani, a spokesperson for the Pakistani consulate in Jeddah, told Arab News. “This is an incredibly generous gesture, indicative of the Saudi government’s commitment to uphold religious traditions and provide a safe environment to those who seek spiritual fulfillment through Umrah.”
Muhammad Umar Butt, a spokesperson for the religious affairs ministry, recalled the major steps taken by the kingdom to facilitate Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in recent months, saying they would help improve the quality of the spiritual journey for Muslims living across the world.
“These are commendable steps and show that the kingdom wants to improve the experience of pilgrims and reduce their expenses to make the journey affordable for all Muslims,” he said.
Osama Ahmed from Lahore, who arrived in Makkah on Saturday, told Arab News over the phone the reduction in insurance cost had been announced at a time when everything was getting expensive around the world.
“The reduction itself may have a limited impact on the overall cost,” he said, “but it shows the Saudi commitment to facilitate pilgrims at a time when the cost of everything is going upwards.”
Farzana Saeed, a pilgrim from Gujranwala, praised the Saudi government for taking care of the holiest Muslim cities and providing necessary facilities to all pilgrims.
“We have been informed that despite the reduction in the insurance cost, the coverage benefits offered by the Saudi authorities will remain the same,” she told Arab News over the phone. “It is so heartening to see how the Saudi government is taking steps to the ease pilgrimage for everyone.”
‘Generous gesture’: Pakistani officials, pilgrims praise Saudi authorities for reducing Umrah insurance cost
https://arab.news/23xku
‘Generous gesture’: Pakistani officials, pilgrims praise Saudi authorities for reducing Umrah insurance cost
- The kingdom’s ministry of Hajj and Umrah has decreased the comprehensive insurance rate by 63 percent
- Saudis have also started allowing pilgrims to visit places other than Makkah, Madinah on their visa for Umrah
Pakistan imposes three-day curfew in Gilgit, Skardu cities after violent Khamenei protests
- At least 14 people were killed in the region where protesters burned UN offices, police station, school and a local charity
- Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesman says the situation is under control, police chief urges the residents to stay indoors
ISLAMABAD: Authorities have deployed troops and imposed a three-day curfew in the northern Pakistani cities of Gilgit and Skardu, according to a notification issued Monday, after over a dozen people were killed in clashes over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.
Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, where the two cities are located, saw violent clashes on Sunday as protesters set fire to and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations (UN) regional offices, army-run school, software technology park and an Aga Khan Rural Support Programme office.
Clashes with law enforcement agencies caused the deaths of at least 14 people in the region, among them a soldier, GB Caretaker Information Minister Ghulam Abbas confirmed told Arab News. He said around 50 others were injured.
“In wake of prevailing precarious law-and-order situation... it is expected that the situation may deteriorate further in Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in District Gilgit and Skardu,” Deputy Home Secretary Ghulam Hasan said in a notification on Monday.
“It is therefore requested that Pakistan Army troops may be deployed in District Gilgit and Skardu and curfew may be imposed for an initial period of three days (2nd, 3rd and 4th March) to prevent any untoward incident and danger to human life and property.”
Separately, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Monday that protesters became violent near the UN Military Observer Group in Pakistan (UNMOGIP) Field Station, which was vandalized.
“The safety and security of UN personnel and premises throughout the region remain our top priority, and we continue to closely monitor the situation,” Dujarric said.
Shabir Mir, a Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesman, said the situation was under control and that the curfew would remain in place until Wednesday as police chief Akbar Nasir Khan urged residents to stay indoors.
Anger has been rising in Pakistan, particularly among members of the Shiite minority, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Khamenei and other senior officials. While Shiites are a minority nationwide, they form a majority in some northern districts and boast significant numbers in major urban centers.
Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi also stormed the US Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.
The US embassy and its consulates in Karachi and Lahore canceled visa appointments and American Citizen Services on Monday, citing security concerns. Pakistani authorities have beefed up security at US diplomatic missions across the country, including around the US consulate building in Peshawar, to avoid any further violence.
Also Monday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange plunged, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index falling nearly 10 percent amid rising geopolitical tensions following attacks on Iran. Investors sold off shares across sectors, with analysts citing heightened uncertainty as the main driver behind the sharp decline.
Sunday’s unrest came amid ongoing cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which began Thursday after Afghanistan launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday. Pakistan has since carried out repeated operations along the border.
— With additional input from AP.
