ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Friday visited the office of the National Adillah Establishment in Madinah to discuss travel arrangements for over 2,000 Pakistani pilgrims who will leave for Makkah today ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage, APP reported.
The National Adillah Establishment is the Saudi agency in charge of coordinating all pilgrim activities in Madinah, including passport collection, departure of pilgrims from Madinah to Makkah, visit to Riazul Jannah, accommodation and transport facilities. As part of the Hajj 2024 policy, there is an agreement on arrangements and requirements of Hujjaj between the National Adillah Establishment and the Office of Pilgrim’s Affairs Pakistan (OPAP).
Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which 63,805 people will perform the pilgrimage under the government scheme while the rest will use private tour operators. This year’s Hajj is expected to run from June 14-19.
Pakistani pilgrims have been arriving in Madinah since May 9 when pre-Hajj flight operations were launched. Over 20,000 Pakistani pilgrims have so far arrived in Madinah under the government scheme. Eleven caravans carrying 2,177 Pakistani pilgrims who stayed eight days in Madinah will leave today, Friday, for Makkah after Friday prayers, Radio Pakistan reported.
In his meeting with Adillah officials, Salik discussed Hajj-related matters “particularly the departure of ‘advanced caravans’ of Pakistani pilgrims today from Madinah to Makkah.”
“This year’s pilgrimage will be one of the best experiences, better management-wise,” Pakistan’s APP news agency quoted the CEO of Adillah, Esam Damyati, as telling Salik.
Salik thanked Damyati for extending all possible assistance and cooperation to the Religious Affairs Ministry and Pakistan Hajj Mission in its Hajj operation.
“Salik said the digitization of Hajj related services by the Saudi authorities had really worked in improving the Hajj arrangements,” APP said. “He appreciated the Saudi government for taking a number of innovative measures like formation of new companies, increasing number of Hajj welfare staff both male and female and use of latest technology.”
Adillah’s Head of Investment Management Ahmed Hammad said the company was keen to explore ways to enhance investment in Hajj-related matters with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Pakistan Hajj Mission.
Pakistani Hajj pilgrims to leave for Makkah today from Madinah via 11 caravans
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Pakistani Hajj pilgrims to leave for Makkah today from Madinah via 11 caravans
- Over 20,000 Pakistani pilgrims have so far arrived in Madinah under the government scheme
- Eleven caravans carrying 2,177 Pakistani pilgrims will leave for Makkah after Friday prayers
Qatar, Pakistan resolve to boost strategic, economic cooperation at Doha talks
- Both countries urge dialogue on Afghanistan amid renewed border tensions between Islamabad and Kabul
- Discussions focus on bilateral trade and investment, energy, defense, manpower and labor and culture
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Qatar on Tuesday agreed to deepen their strategic and economic cooperation during high-level talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Sharif’s office said.
Sharif visited Qatar along with a high-level delegation on the invitation of Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Pakistani premier also held meetings with Qatar’s trade and defense ministers to discuss cooperation in various domains.
The visit came at a time when Pakistan is seeking closer economic engagement with Gulf partners amid its broader push to stabilize the economy and attract investment, while maintaining security and defense cooperation with key regional states.
During their meeting in Doha, PM Sharif and Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international developments, according to the Pakistan prime minister’s office.
“They reaffirmed the strong brotherly relations between Pakistan and Qatar and expressed satisfaction at the growing momentum in political, economic and institutional ties,” Sharif’s office said.
“Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, energy, defense, manpower and labor and culture, with both sides stressing the importance of their task force to accelerate cooperation in all these areas.”
Pakistan and Qatar maintain strong trade and investment ties. In 2022, the office of Qatar’s emir said the Qatar Investment Authority planned to invest $3 billion in Pakistan, targeting sectors including transport, aviation, education, health, media, technology and labor.
Nearly 300,000 Pakistanis live and work in Qatar, according to Pakistan’s foreign office, with many employed in health, education, engineering and public services, as well as construction and transport. The two countries engage through forums such as the Bilateral Political Consultations and the Joint Ministerial Commission.
Sharif said he had productive discussions with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on how the two sides could transform their brotherly ties into mutually beneficial economic relationships.
“We also took stock of the regional situation,” he said on X. “Pakistan and Qatar will continue to work together for peace and stability in the region and beyond.”
DIALOGUE WITH AFGHANISTAN
Earlier, Sharif and Qatar’s Deputy PM Sheikh Saoud Al-Thani discussed the situation in Afghanistan and called for dialogue to support regional stability.
The meeting took place amid renewed tensions after Islamabad carried out airstrikes last week on what it described as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) targets inside Afghanistan. Kabul said the strikes killed civilians and vowed to respond to what it called a violation of its sovereignty.
“Regional developments were also discussed, in particular the situation in Iran and Afghanistan,” Sharif’s office said in a statement. “Both sides emphasized the importance of dialogue, de-escalation and collective efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.”
This was the second time in less than six months that Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan. The last strikes triggered heavy, weeklong clashes between the neighbors along their border before Qatar and Turkiye mediated a ceasefire between them in Oct. last year.
Separately, Sharif held meetings with Qatar’s State Minister for Trade Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed and a delegation of the Qatar Businessmen Association (QBA), highlighting Pakistan’s investment-friendly reforms.
He invited QBA members to explore opportunities in infrastructure, logistics, energy, agriculture, technology and export-oriented manufacturing, his office said.
