ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry on Saturday applauded Saudi Arabia for using advanced technology to improve the pilgrimage experience for Muslims, the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported, after the kingdom announced its plan to test “flying taxis and drones” during this Hajj season.
Saudi Minister for Transport and Logistics Saleh Al-Jasser spoke earlier this week about intense competition among transportation companies in the kingdom to provide the best traveling means to people. Previously, he also said the flying taxis and drones would be tested during Hajj to provide pilgrims with maximum comfort.
According to some reports, the Saudi Airlines was also considering plans to operate flying taxis to ferry Hajj pilgrims from the Jeddah airport to their hotels in Makkah.
“Saudi Arabia’s commitment to modernizing the pilgrimage experience through innovative technology demonstrates their dedication to ensuring pilgrims’ comfort and convenience,” Muhammad Umar, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry, said.
Umar, who has remained closely involved in his country’s Hajj operations since 2009, also mentioned how the Saudi authorities had introduced various mobile applications to help pilgrims.
“I have witnessed firsthand the dedication and efforts of the Saudi government in facilitating the sacred journey of millions of pilgrims,” he added.
He also highlighted significant improvements in crowd management and the provision of enhanced facilities to pilgrims by Saudi authorities over the years.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime, if they are financially and physically able.
Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, according to the Pakistani religious affairs ministry. Of them, 63,805 pilgrims will be performing the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest would be accommodated by private tour operators.

KARACHI: The top International Monetary Fund (IMF) official in Pakistan confirmed on Saturday the global lending agency will send a delegation to Islamabad next week to discuss the “next phase of engagement” with the government that has publicly expressed its interest in securing a larger and longer-term loan.
Last month, the country’s finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, told a media briefing Pakistan was hoping to reach a staff-level agreement with the IMF for a new loan “by June or early July.”
His statement came at a time when the country’s short-term IMF loan program of $3 billion was about to expire after its successful completion.
However, he did not elaborate much on the government’s preference for the size and duration of the next loan facility, saying these issues would be discussed during negotiations with the IMF team.
“A mission team led by Nathan Porter, IMF’s Mission Chief to Pakistan, will meet with authorities next week to discuss the next phase of engagement,” Esther Perez Ruiz, IMF Resident Representative for Pakistan, told Arab News in response to a query.
“The aim is to lay the foundation for better governance and stronger, more inclusive, and resilient economic growth that will benefit all Pakistanis,” she added.
Some Pakistani media outlets recently reported that an IMF team was already visiting the country to discuss the bailout program under the Extended Fund Facility.
However, the IMF statement clarifies its mission is yet to arrive in Islamabad for negotiations.