54,000 Pakistani pilgrims to travel through advanced railways during Hajj

The trains are equipped with the latest technology to ensure comfort and safety. (Supplied photo)
Updated 06 August 2019
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54,000 Pakistani pilgrims to travel through advanced railways during Hajj

  • This year 53,690 Pakistani pilgrims will be traveling by train during Hajj
  • Saudi railway is offering a safer and more comfortable pilgrimage with less congestion

ISLAMABAD: The Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugaddassah Metro Project (MMMP), a shuttle train service that operates during the Hajj season in Makkah, introduced a new means of transport for pilgrims, easing traffic bottlenecks by reducing congestion.
Pakistan’s Director General Hajj Sajid Yousafani said that this year 53,690 pilgrims will be traveling by train, 4000 more than last year, Pakistan Consulate General in Jeddah said on Tuesday.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noor Ul-Haq Qadri and Coordinator Hajj Operation, Adviser to Prime Minister Mohammad Shahzad Arbab, on Monday, chaired a meeting to review Hajj arrangements at Pakistan House in Medina and reviewed the arrangement for pilgrim specially challenge of transportation.
Around 189,000 pilgrims from Pakistan have reached Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs said in an official handout on Tuesday.
These include “122,000 under government quota and 67,000 using services offered by private tour and Hajj operators,” the ministry said giving further details.
“For traveling between Makkah and Medina we are providing luxury buses to the pilgrims,” the ministry said.
Pakistan’s director-general for Hajj mission, Dr. Sajid Yousfani, last week had said the mission is “getting full support and co-operation” from Saudi officials to facilitate Pakistani Hajj pilgrims.
Saudi shuttle train project includes nine overground stations, each with a 300-meter-long platform that can be accessed via specific routes to the waiting areas under the stations, each of which can accommodate more than 3,000 people.
According to the Makkah Region Development Authority, the shuttle train will transport more than 360,000 pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season. 
The MMMP South Line links the southeast of Arafat and southwest of Mina through Muzdalifah. The trains pass through three stations in Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina. The track stretches over roughly 20 km, and the driverless trains run at speeds of 80-120 km per hour (kph).




The project includes nine overground stations, each with a 300-meter-long platform that can be accessed via specific routes to the waiting areas under the stations. (Supplied photo)

PEAK SEASON
The metro line, which only operates for the Hajj season in Makkah — and has the highest capacity of any metro in the world — is used as an exclusive shuttle train for pilgrims between Makkah, Mount Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina. 
It helps immensely in reducing traffic bottlenecks caused by thousands of buses and cars during the peak season.
The trains, which can travel up to 300 kph, are equipped with the latest technology to ensure comfort and safety.
The trains can cross between Arafat and Mina in 13 minutes, and between Arafat and Muzdalifah in seven.
Hajj, which is the largest annual gathering of people in the world, attracts pilgrims from across the world. The railway has replaced around 50,000 buses, promising a safer and more comfortable pilgrimage with less congestion.
The Hajj Affairs and Transport Department said it is committed to using the best urban planning and smart technology to ensure that the pilgrimage is safe and comfortable.

FAST FACTS

  • The Al-Haramain high-speed railway covers 450 km, linking stations in Makkah, Jeddah, King Abdul Aziz International Airport, King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, and Madinah.
  • The railway takes 21 minutes between Makkah and Jeddah, 14 minutes between Jeddah and King Abdul Aziz International Airport, and 36 minutes between King Abdullah Airport and King Abdullah Economic City.
  • The company trains Saudis in Hajj security services, and recruits Saudis who speak languages other than Arabic, providing them with intensive training to help pilgrims from around the world.

The Al-Haramain high-speed railway, which is part of the MMMP, opened to the public in October 2018, whisking travelers between the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Rabigh.
Speaking during the opening, Rumaih Al-Rumaih, chairman of the Public Transport Authority, said: “It is a moment that marks a historical national turning point in the Kingdom’s modern transportation.”
Sharing his experience of traveling on the Al-Haramain Railway, Mohammed Marghalani, a hotel manager in Riyadh, told Arab News: “It was a great experience, and I’d love to do it again. It’s faster than the car, thus saving time. I traveled between Jeddah to Madinah, which took two-and-a-half hours. If you use a car, it will take double the time.”
The railway system hires Saudi youths during the holy season, with opportunities for them to work as security guards and administrators.
The authorities use a specialized security company to organize the boarding of pilgrims onto the trains during Hajj.
The company trains Saudis in Hajj security services, and recruits Saudis who speak languages other than Arabic, providing them with intensive training to help pilgrims from around the world.
“It’s very clean. The staff working on the train and in stations are friendly and cooperative, displaying an excellent sense of hospitality and high standard of hygiene, with very clean toilets,” said Marghalani.
To prevent overcrowding, station areas are restricted so that undocumented or ticketless pilgrims cannot enter.




To prevent overcrowding, station areas are restricted so that undocumented or ticketless pilgrims cannot enter. (Supplied photo)

VISION 2030
The Al-Haramain Railway project is in line with the objectives of Vision 2030 reform plan, as it should help increase the number of visitors to the Kingdom’s holy places. Zafar Hasan, who traveled recently from Makkah to Madinah using the railway, described it as a “very helpful transport initiative.”
Hasan told Arab News: “I am very impressed with the high standards of transportation between the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.”
“Tickets can be booked easily online. I bought an economy-class ticket to travel with my family and had a great trip. It was very quiet, safe and fast. The train was exactly on time and we had a very smooth ride.”
He said the ticket price is relatively high, but in view of the safety, high speed and luxury travel, it is a good method of transport between the two holy cities for Hajj, Umrah and Ziyarah.
Tickets for the Al-Haramain Railway can be purchased online (www.hhr.sa), as well as over the phone (920004433) or direct from ticket offices between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

FASTFACTS

FAST FACTS

The Al-Haramain high-speed railway covers 450 km, linking stations in Makkah, Jeddah, King Abdul Aziz International Airport, King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, and Madinah. The railway takes 21 minutes between Makkah and Jeddah, 14 minutes between Jeddah and King Abdul Aziz International Airport, and 36 minutes between King Abdullah Airport and King Abdullah Economic City. The company trains Saudis in Hajj security services, and recruits Saudis who speak languages other than Arabic, providing them with intensive training to help pilgrims from around the world.


Senior political leader shot dead amid escalating militancy in Pakistan’s northwest

Updated 22 November 2024
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Senior political leader shot dead amid escalating militancy in Pakistan’s northwest

  • Mashaal Azad, a PPP leader in Lakki Marwat, was ambushed while going for Friday prayers
  • Attack occurred the day Pakistan’s army chief was in Peshawar to discuss security situation

PESHAWAR: Amid a string of deadly attacks that have claimed the lives of dozens of civilians and security officials in Pakistan’s northwest, unidentified gunmen on Friday shot dead a senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the volatile Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, police said.
The restive district, a hotspot of militant activity, witnessed unprecedented protests in September when police officers, joined by civil society members and tribal elders, staged sit-ins and blocked the Indus Highway.
The demonstrations followed a spate of militant attacks that killed several policemen, prompting demands for enhanced security measures and greater autonomy for the law enforcement agency in counterterrorism operations.
Speaking to Arab News over the phone, the police spokesperson in the district, Shahid Marwat, said the slain PPP leader Mashaal Azad was heading toward Sarai Gambila, a rundown locality on the outskirts of the district’s center, for Friday prayers when he was ambushed by gunmen.
“Mashaal Azad was killed by unidentified bike riders on the Canal Road near Kajoori Hotel within the limits of Sarai Gambila police station,” Marwat said.
The incident occurred on the day Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir was visiting Peshawar, the provincial capital of KP, where he vowed action against militants and reiterated the army’s firm resolve to dismantle hostile militant networks.
The killing also follows a gun attack on a convoy carrying members of the minority Shiite community in the Kurram tribal district a day earlier, leaving more than 40 people dead.
Earlier this week, on Tuesday, 10 Pakistan army soldiers and two members of the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary were killed when militants attacked a checkpost in the northwestern Bannu district.
Rabnawaz Marwat, a tribal elder in Lakki Marwat, said the late PPP leader was a long-time and senior party figure who had been a strong voice against militancy in the region.
“Late Azad had served as a member of the provincial council of PPP,” he informed. “He had also served as a student leader of PPP in Lakki Marwat. In addition, he was an active tribal elder who played a leading role in dispute resolution in the region.”
According to the police spokesperson, a report of the incident has been lodged against unidentified persons, and further investigations will be initiated.
“It is mentioned in the report that late Azad had no personal enmity with anyone in the area,” he said. “It seems to be an act of targeted attack by terrorists.”
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of civil and military leaders to review the country’s security situation, during which it was agreed to take action against those involved in militant violence.


Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated film ‘The Glassworker’ makes Oscars eligibility list

Updated 22 November 2024
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Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated film ‘The Glassworker’ makes Oscars eligibility list

  • The film was released in July, with its director calling it the result of ‘passion and perseverance’
  • Selection committee in the country says it has broken ‘new ground for animation’ in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated film, “The Glassworker,” has been named on the list of eligible films for the 97th Academy Awards in both the Animated Feature Film and International Feature Film categories, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this week.
Directed by young Pakistani animator Usman Riaz, the film was released in July and features 1,477 cuts and 2,500 individual drawings. The coming-of-age tale follows Vincent, a young apprentice at his father’s glass workshop, and Alliz, a talented violinist and the daughter of a military colonel.
Against the backdrop of a looming war, their relationships with their parents and each other are tested.
“Thirty-one features are eligible for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 97th Academy Awards,” the Academy said on its website, with “The Glassworker” among them.
“Films submitted in the Animated Feature Film category may also qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture,” it added. “Animated features that have been submitted in the International Feature Film category as their country’s official selection are also eligible in the category.”
Five films from the list will be shortlisted for nominations in the Animated Feature Film category, with the ultimate winner announced at the Oscars ceremony scheduled for March 3, 2025.
A team of 250 national and international cast and crew members worked on the film, which was produced by Riaz’s Karachi-based Mano Animation Studios.
The film became Pakistan’s first-ever animated feature to be nominated for Oscars consideration in September.
“Usman and Mano’s work has demonstrated exceptional storytelling and artistry while breaking new ground for animation in Pakistan,” the Academy Selection Committee of Pakistan said earlier while lauding the project. “This achievement will be remembered in our cinematic history.”
Riaz described his effort as a result of “a decade of passion and perseverance” when the film was nominated for Oscars from Pakistan.
“I am deeply humbled by the selection and hope this story resonates with audiences everywhere, showcasing the talent and creativity Pakistan has to offer,” he added. 


Pakistan seal final spot in Under-19 cricket tri-series with dominant win over UAE

Updated 22 November 2024
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Pakistan seal final spot in Under-19 cricket tri-series with dominant win over UAE

  • Pakistan posted their highest total of the tournament, amassing 314 for five in 50 overs
  • UAE’s innings ended at 123 in 37 overs, setting the stage for Pakistan-Afghanistan clash

ISLAMABAD: Half-centuries by Farhan Yousuf, Haroon Arshad, Shahzaib Khan and Usman Khan powered Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team to a commanding 191-run victory over the United Arab Emirates in the fifth match of the U19 tri-series at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai on Friday.
The victory secured Pakistan’s place in the final, where they will face Afghanistan U19 on Tuesday, November 26, at the same venue.
This was Pakistan’s second win over UAE in the tournament, having defeated them by 10 wickets in the opening match.
“Pakistan U19 earn an emphatic 191-run win over UAE U19,” the Pakistan Cricket Board announced in a social media post. “They will play the tri-series final on Tuesday.”
The Pakistan team edged Afghanistan by 13 runs in their previous encounter but suffered a loss to them earlier in the series.
After electing to bat, Pakistan posted their highest total of the tournament, amassing 314 for five in 50 overs.
Left-handed openers Shahzaib Khan (71 off 84) and Usman Khan (50 off 64) provided a solid foundation with a 96-run opening stand. Farhan Yousuf (63 off 50) and Haroon Arshad (54 off 34) then built on the momentum with a brisk 75-run partnership for the fourth wicket, while Faham-ul-Haq contributed a steady 37 off 48. For UAE, Noorullah Ayubi and Uddish Suri picked up two wickets each.
Chasing 315, UAE struggled from the outset, collapsing to 52 for five within 16 overs.
Ayaan Misbah (17 off 46) and Uddish Suri (32 not out) attempted to stabilize the innings with a 21-run stand for the sixth wicket, but Misbah fell to Umar Zaib in the 26th over.
UAE’s innings ended at 123 in 37 overs, with Umar Zaib taking four for 51 and Naveed Ahmed Khan claiming three wickets.
The final group match of the series will be played between Afghanistan and UAE on Sunday, November 24.
 


Pakistan 'will break any hand' threatening Saudi relations — PM Sharif

Updated 22 November 2024
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Pakistan 'will break any hand' threatening Saudi relations — PM Sharif

  • Statement comes after Imran Khan’s wife released a video message widely viewed as critical of the Kingdom
  • Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are close allies, with nearly 3 million Pakistanis living and working in the Kingdon

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday vowed strict action against anyone attempting to undermine Pakistan’s close relations with Saudi Arabia, declaring that his government would “break any hand” threatening ties between the two nations.
Sharif’s statement appeared to reference recent remarks by Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, who in a rare public message on Thursday assured state institutions that her jailed husband would not seek revenge against political opponents if he returned to power.
She also made remarks in her video message that were widely viewed as implying that the Saudi government had opposed Khan when he was prime minister from 2018-22.
“Such venom-spitting is an unforgivable crime,” Sharif said while addressing a ceremony on Friday. “I, as the prime minister of Pakistan, want to announce that the nation will break any hand trying to undermine the Pakistan-Saudi friendship.”
“This is not a joke,” he continued. “The allegation is beyond understanding. The biggest national interest is being slaughtered to serve the short-term political interest.”
He criticized the former first lady, whose husband’s PTI party is currently in opposition, saying that the Kingdom had never demanded anything in return from Pakistan for extending economic and diplomatic support but instead always “opened its doors.”
“I think there can be no greater enmity against Pakistan than this [issuing such comments],” he said, adding that Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was sacrificing the country’s interest for its political interests.
Sharif said “no one will be allowed to play” with Pakistan’s interests when it concerned “brotherly allies” such as Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also addressed the issue in a press conference, highlighting that over 2.8 million Pakistanis were working in the Kingdom, sending billions of dollars in remittances back to their country every year.
“Our cordial and friendly relationship with Saudi Arabia should not be affected due to someone’s political gains,” he said. “Such a controversial statement is an effort to save PTI’s sinking ship.”
Khan was ousted from the prime minister’s office in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in 2022, alleging that he was removed by his political rivals and the all-powerful military at the behest of the United States. All three parties deny the accusation.
The cricketer-turned-politician has been in prison since August last year, facing a slew of legal challenges. He denies any wrongdoing, claiming that all cases against him are politically motivated to keep him in jail.
His PTI party is set to kick off a “long march” to stage a protest in Islamabad on Nov. 24, aiming to pressure the government into releasing Khan from prison. Authorities have refused to grant permission to hold the gathering and imposed a ban on public assembly in the capital for two months.


Pakistani stocks break psychological 99,000 barrier on optimism over rates, reserves

Updated 22 November 2024
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Pakistani stocks break psychological 99,000 barrier on optimism over rates, reserves

  • An analyst attributes the intraday rally to broad-based gains across most economic sectors
  • The stock market has remained bullish since the government slashed policy rate in November

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday breached a major psychological barrier, surging past 99,000 points during intra-day trading before settling at 97,798.23, as analysts attributed the rally to investor optimism driven by falling lending rates and higher foreign exchange reserves.
The benchmark KSE-100 index climbed 2,057.40 points by 11:10 am, reaching 99,385.79 points from the previous close. However, the index closed at 97,798.23, marking an increase of 469.84 points or 0.48 percent.
Analyst Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation said bank levies on large deposits, surging global oil prices, and rupee stability were fueling investor optimism.
“Stocks remained bullish, led by scrips across the board, as investors weighed falling lending rates and the imposition of bank levies on large deposits following a drop in government bond yields,” he told Arab News. “Surging global crude oil prices, rupee stability, and higher forex reserves played a catalytic role in the record surge at the PSX.”
Last month, Pakistan’s external current account recorded a surplus of $349 million, marking the third consecutive month of surplus and the highest in this period. The current account reflects a nation’s transactions with the world, encompassing net trade in goods and services, net earnings on cross-border investments and net transfer payments.
A surplus indicates that a country is exporting more than it is importing, thereby strengthening its foreign exchange reserves.
A bullish trend has been observed in the stock market since Pakistan’s central bank cut its key policy rate by 250 basis points, bringing it to 15 percent earlier this month. Economic indicators have also steadily improved since securing a 37-month, $7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September.
In the past, the country faced a prolonged economic crisis that drained its foreign exchange reserves and saw its currency weaken amid double-digit inflation. Last year, Pakistan narrowly avoided a sovereign default by clinching a last-minute $3 billion IMF bailout deal.