ISLAMABAD: Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf on Tuesday urged Pakistani Hajj pilgrims to follow Saudi Arabia’s laws during their stay in the Kingdom and consider themselves as ambassadors of their country.
The minister was speaking at a Hajj training workshop in Islamabad organized by the Religious Affairs Ministry, as Pakistan launched the second phase of its mandatory training for Hajj pilgrims on Tuesday.
Pakistan conducted its first phase of Hajj training in January that continued across the country until late February, with intending pilgrims trained via audio-visual devices and other materials.
“Hajj pilgrims are going as ambassadors of Pakistan, take care of the laws there,” Yousaf was quoted as telling pilgrims at the workshop.
“Do not do anything that will bring disrespect to your country,” he added.
He lauded the Saudi government for making impressive arrangements for pilgrims, describing the Kingdom as a “brotherly country.”
Yousaf said Pakistani officials had reviewed Hajj arrangements in the Kingdom, vowing that pilgrims would not suffer any unpleasant experiences.
The minister said that mandatory vaccinations of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims would be conducted on Apr. 20.
Hajj pilgrims must comply with strict vaccination requirements set by the Saudi Ministry of Health to ensure public safety during one of the world’s largest annual gatherings.
Mandatory vaccines include the meningitis shot, with additional recommendations for the seasonal influenza vaccine, while travelers from regions prone to yellow fever and polio must also provide corresponding immunization certificates.
These precautions are vital to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among millions of pilgrims converging in the Kingdom from across the globe.
Yousaf said last week around 90,000 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj this year under the government scheme. Saudi Arabia has allowed Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the Hajj, which is split equally between government and private schemes.
Pakistan urges Hajj pilgrims to follow Saudi Arabia’s laws
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Pakistan urges Hajj pilgrims to follow Saudi Arabia’s laws
- Pakistan’s religion ministry launches second phase of mandatory training for Hajj pilgrims
- Pakistan to conduct mandatory vaccinations of Hajj pilgrims on Apr. 20, says ministry
Pakistan face USA in their second T20 World Cup clash today
- Pakistan suffered a shock defeat at the hands of the USA in the 2024 T20 World Cup tournament
- Pakistan will then head on to play against arch-rivals India in high-octane clash in Colombo on Feb. 15
ISLAMABAD: Skipper Salman Ali Agha will be wary of the challenge a spirited USA can pose for his side on Tuesday as Pakistan face the minnows for their second T20 World Cup clash in Colombo tonight.
Pakistan will look to avenge their shock 2024 World Cup loss to USA when the latter beat the Asian giants in a thriller that went down to the Super Over. Pakistan lost their other fixture against India after the shock defeat, crashing out of the 2024 World Cup in the early stage.
Agha’s side were headed for yet another World Cup upset on Saturday against the Netherlands if it were not for Faheem Ashraf’s penultimate over heroics, who sealed the game for the Green Shirts with stellar power hitting. The USA, on the other hand, gave a tough time to India in their opening World Cup fixture last week. The defending champions were struggling at 77-6 at one point in time before skipper Suryakumar Yadav rescued them with an unbeaten 84-run knock.
“Another exciting day of #T20WorldCup cricket,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) wrote on social media platform X.
Apart from the Pakistan fixture, New Zealand take on UAE while Namibia face the Netherlands in the World Cup fixtures today.
USA leg-spinner Mohammad Mohsin said on Monday that the pressure will be on Pakistan when the two sides take the field on Tuesday.
“The pressure of losing the last game will be on Pakistan,” he said. “I have played with most of the players in this Pakistan team, so I have given my input to the team and we are a more skilled and confident team.”
The match is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time.
After the USA fixture, Pakistan will face India on Feb. 15 for a high-octane World Cup clash after the Pakistani government announced it was ending its boycott and would face their arch-rivals on the cricket field.
The decision was taken after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday and was briefed on negotiations between Pakistan’s cricket board, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and other stakeholders on Sunday.
Pakistan had announced on Feb. 1 it was pulling out of its World Cup match against India due to the ICC’s decision of replacing Bangladesh with Scotland. Bangladesh had said it would not play its World Cup matches in India owing to security fears and requested different venues. The ICC refused, drawing sharp protests from Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) earlier thanked the PCB, ICC and all others for their positive roles in trying to “overcome recent challenges,” particularly thanking PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Pakistani cricket fans for demonstrating “exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity.”
An India-Pakistan fixture is the sport’s most lucrative asset, generating a massive share of global broadcasting and sponsorship revenue.
