ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani pilgrim couple celebrated the birth of a baby boy during this year’s Hajj and named him Muhammad, the Pakistani religion ministry said on Thursday.
The beautiful moment unfolded in the holy city of Madinah as the Pakistani couple from Balochistan welcomed the newborn, according to the Pakistani religious affairs ministry.
The Pakistan Hajj Medical Mission in Madinah is ensuring both mother and baby received required medical attention, while officials from the Saudi Hajj ministry also visited the mission to celebrate the occasion.
“They (Saudi officials) warmly congratulated and blessed the newborn’s parents, sharing in their happiness,” the Pakistani religious affairs ministry said in a statement.
“During the ceremony, gifts were given to baby Muhammad and his delighted parents, marking the beginning of a blessed journey for the infant.”
Abdul Wahab Soomro, a senior Pakistani Hajj official, expressed his best wishes to the family on the occasion.
“This joyful event will remain a cherished memory for the proud parents, connecting them deeply to the holy city of Madinah,” he was quoted as saying.
“Such moments reflect the unity, hope, and renewal that define this sacred journey for millions worldwide.”
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. At least 160,000 Pakistanis attended this year’s annual pilgrimage, which ran from June 14 till June 19.
The post-Hajj flight operation by the Pakistani government is currently underway to bring back these Pakistanis.
Pakistani pilgrim couple welcomes baby boy during Hajj 2024
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Pakistani pilgrim couple welcomes baby boy during Hajj 2024
- The baby was born in Madinah to pilgrim couple from Pakistan’s Balochistan province
- Pakistani religion ministry says Saudi Hajj officials visited mission to celebrate the occasion
Bodies of Pakistani nationals who died attempting illegal migration repatriated from Iran
- Pakistan’s envoy in Tehran warns youth against human smugglers after deaths in harsh weather
- Pakistan reported sharp fall in illegal migration to Europe this year amid nationwide crackdown
ISLAMABAD: The bodies of two Pakistani nationals, who died near the Iran-Türkiye border after attempting to travel illegally to Europe, have been repatriated to the country, said a senior diplomat on Tuesday, reiterating warnings against human smugglers amid an intensified crackdown by authorities in Islamabad on illegal migration.
Pakistan says it has stepped up action against illegal immigration and human trafficking in recent years, reporting a 47% drop in illegal migration to Europe this year and the arrest of more than 1,700 suspected human smugglers, according to official figures.
However, people continue to attempt dangerous irregular journeys in search of work and better economic opportunities abroad.
“The mortal remains of Pakistani nationals Mr. Armanullah s/o Gul Rahman and Mr. Ihtasham s/o Mukhtar Gul, both residents of Nowshera, have been repatriated to Pakistan through Taftan border earlier today,” Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, said in a post on social media platform X. “Both had fallen victim to the greed of human smugglers and lost their lives in extremely harsh weather conditions near Iran’s border with Turkiye.”
“I once again request the youth back home not to be trapped by human smugglers and instead follow the legal path to travel abroad,” he added, thanking the government of the Balochistan province in Pakistan for arranging the transportation of the bodies and offering condolences to the victims’ families.
The issue illegal immigration has drawn heightened scrutiny since 2023, when hundreds of people, including Pakistani nationals, died attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in an overcrowded vessel that sank off the Greek coast, prompting Islamabad to launch nationwide investigations into human smuggling and trafficking networks.
Authorities have since arrested Pakistani and foreign nationals at airports with forged travel documents, highlighting the scale of document fraud linked to illegal departures.
In September, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) released a list of more than 100 of Pakistan’s “most wanted” human smugglers and identified major trafficking hubs across Punjab province and the capital, Islamabad.
Earlier this month, Pakistan announced plans to roll out an artificial intelligence-based immigration screening system at Islamabad airport from January, aimed at detecting forged documents and preventing illegal travel abroad, as part of broader efforts to curb human smuggling and unauthorized migration.
