ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Jeddah said on Saturday the families of eight Umrah pilgrims who lost their lives in a hotel fire in Makkah would receive compensation and all necessary assistance after the burial of their loved ones in Saudi Arabia.

The foreign office in Islamabad confirmed on Friday that eight Pakistani pilgrims had died in the hotel fire while six others were injured. It added the Pakistani mission in Jeddah was in contact with the Saudi authorities to provide relief to the victims’ families.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed sorrow over the death of Pakistani pilgrims and directed the religious affairs ministry to ensure the provision of proper medical treatment to the injured.

He also instructed to provide all possible assistance to the relatives of the deceased.

“Local burials are currently underway and no requests for the repatriation of the deceased have been received,” the Pakistani mission told Arab News in a statement. “If any such requests are made, they will be processed in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures.”

The statement added the welfare department of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah would start compensating the families for their loss after the burial.

“The department will collaborate with Umrah companies to evaluate their insurance coverage and subsequently contact the Saudi foreign office to proceed by providing compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased individuals,” it added.

The statement said the mission would provide all relevant information and support to the families of the victims.

Speaking to Arab News, Hamzah Gilani, the spokesperson of the Pakistani consulate in Jeddah, said the welfare department was performing exceptionally well after identifying the families affected by the fire incident.

“They acted swiftly and efficiently by identifying those who suffered the impact of the tragedy by providing emotional and practical assistance to the affected families, arranging funerals, and collecting necessary documents,” he told Arab News.

According to the Pakistani mission, the bodies of six people have been identified while two of the deceased still remain unknown.