ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has signed an agreement with Saudi Airlines to facilitate travel of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims, Pakistani state media reported on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia has allotted Pakistan a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims, to be divided equally between government and private schemes.
Under the agreement with the Pakistani religious affairs ministry, Saudi Airlines will provide travel services for 35,000 Pakistani government-sponsored Hajj pilgrims, the state-run APP news agency reported.
“The agreement was formalized during a ceremony attended by Sultan Al-Harbi, Country Manager of Saudi Airlines in Pakistan, and Dr. Syed Ata-ur-Rehman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony,” the report read.
“This collaboration follows a previous agreement between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which also pledged travel arrangements for 35,000 pilgrims as part of this year’s Hajj operations.”
The religious affairs ministry has also signed an agreement with the Pakistan’s National Testing Service (NTS), which will hold exams for the selection of supervisors and assistants for next year’s pilgrimage, the ministry said this month.
Pakistan selects hundreds of assistants and doctors from federal and provincial government departments via a competitive process every year to facilitate local pilgrims in performing the rituals of the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The ministry said it would “soon” announce the selection through an advertisement.
The Pakistani government approved a new Hajj policy in November.
The cost of next year’s Hajj under the government scheme is expected to range between Rs1,075,000 to Rs1,175,000, while an additional cost for the sacrifice of animals during the pilgrimage will be Rs55,000, according to the ministry.
The first installment of Hajj dues, amounting to Rs200,000, have to be deposited at the time of the application, while the second installment of Rs400,000 will be paid within ten days of the balloting and if your name is picked in the lucky draw. The remaining amount can be paid by Feb. 10 next year.
Pakistani ministry, Saudi Airlines ink agreement to facilitate Hajj pilgrims — state media
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Pakistani ministry, Saudi Airlines ink agreement to facilitate Hajj pilgrims — state media
- Saudi Arabia has allotted Pakistan a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims, to be divided between government and private schemes
- Saudi Airlines will provide travel services for 35,000 Pakistani government-sponsored Hajj pilgrims under the new agreement
Pakistan warns of more rain, snow in north, urges tourists to avoid travel
- Heavy snow has blanketed parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Galiyat, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, cutting off several towns and villages
- Communications Minister Aleem Khan has directed authorities to ensure highways remain open, fully operational under all circumstances
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday warned of more rain and snowfall in northern parts of the country, urging tourists to avoid unnecessary travel as authorities moved to prevent weather-related emergencies.
Rescuers evacuated dozens of stranded residents and tourists to safety as heavy snowfall blanketed several mountainous areas, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, blocking roads and cutting off villages.
KP’s Khyber, South Waziristan and Swat districts were the most affected by heavy snowfall on Thursday, where authorities were clearing roads and providing food, warm clothes and bedding to affectees, according to Rescue 1122.
Heavy snowfall was also witnessed in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree and Galiyat where several vehicles were stuck on roads, while residents complaint of power outages in some areas, local media widely reported on Friday.
“The system causing rain/snowfall is active over northern parts of the country,” the PMD said in its advisory on Friday noon, predicting more showers and snow in the next few hours.
“Tourists [are] advised to stay vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel during rain and snowfall.”
Weather authorities this week forecast intermittent rains and snowfall in northern regions of the country between Jan. 21 and Jan. 24, with heavy snowfall likely in upper and hilly areas of the province.
Tens of thousands of tourists flock to Pakistan’s scenic north every winter to witness snowfall, often neglecting warnings from disaster management authorities.
In Jan. 2022, at least 21 people, including children, died after they were stuck in freezing temperatures during a snowstorm in the Pakistani hill station of Murree.
In view of the situation, Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan on Friday directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to ensure that all highways remain open and fully operational under all circumstances.
“Minister has instructed NHA field staff to remain on high alert and to maintain 24/7 monitoring of weather conditions on highways in snowfall-affected areas,” the Pakistani information ministry said.
“He emphasized that ensuring uninterrupted traffic flow on national highways, particularly in upper regions, is a top priority.”
