ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani prime minister’s special adviser on religious harmony and the Middle East, Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, on Tuesday lauded Saudi Arabia’s efforts and facilities for pilgrims during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ashrafi, who is in Saudi Arabia on a personal visit, told Arab News, he had visited the Haramain Sharifain secretariat in Madina where he was briefed about coronavirus preventive measures and other facilities for pilgrims coming to perform the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
“We appreciate the kingdom’s efforts for pilgrims,” Ashrafi said.
Saudi Arabia closed its borders in February 2020 to foreign Umrah pilgrims and, in March, stopped its own citizens and residents from taking part in the ritual in order to contain the spread of the virus. In July 2020, the Kingdom only allowed a limited number of domestic pilgrims to perform the annual Hajj.
From October 2020, Saudi Arabia has once more allowed the Umrah pilgrimage and in November last year, a first group of Pakistani pilgrims also travelled to the holy cities of Makkah and Madina for Umrah.
