By Wasif Ali Khan
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, met with Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, to discuss enhanced facilities for Pakistani pilgrims.
During the meeting, the Saudi minister congratulated Sardar Yousaf on assuming office and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to facilitating Pakistani Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. The discussions focused on expanding the Road to Makkah initiative to more cities in Pakistan.
“I pay tribute to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their commitment to providing the best facilities for Hajj pilgrims,” said Sardar Yousaf. He emphasized the deep-rooted historical, religious, and cultural ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah acknowledged the large number of Pakistani pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia annually and assured that serving them is an honor. The ministers also discussed registration challenges faced by Pakistani pilgrims, with the Saudi minister pledging priority-based resolutions for these issues.”Providing top-tier facilities to Hajj and Umrah pilgrims remains a priority for the Saudi government,” Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah stated, adding that new initiatives have been introduced to improve services.
Sardar Yousaf appreciated Saudi Arabia’s special focus on facilitating Pakistani pilgrims, expressing confidence that their experience would be smoother than ever before.
The meeting was also attended by Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdulfattah Mashat, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq, and Director General of Hajj Abdul Wahab Soomro.
