ISLAMABAD: After managing the world’s largest multicultural religious event involving more than 2.4 million Muslims from 130 countries, Saudi Arabia has taken a new initiative to offer improved Hajj luggage services to pilgrims.
According to a report published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Saturday, the initiative will begin its pilot phase within the next two days and will automatically organize luggage logistics before worshippers arrive at the airport.
The president of the Kingdom’s General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA), Abdulhadi Al Mansouri, said the idea behind the plan was to improve pilgrims’ services by reducing waiting times at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah.
He added that the initiative would serve about 30,000 pilgrims in the first phase at the airports in Jeddah and Madinah. After this phase was completed, the service would expand to all pilgrims in airports throughout the country.
The Kingdom already extended a pre-departure immigration facility to pilgrims belonging to different countries, including Pakistan, under its ‘Road to Makkah’ program. It also deployed hundreds of young individuals who spoke different languages to assist people from various parts of the world at its airports in Makkah and Madinah.
Saudi Arabia also launched a number of cellphone apps to help pilgrims find emergency service centers, holy sites, currency exchange rates, restaurants and accommodations. Apart from that, it made it easier for people performing Hajj to carry Zamzam water back to their countries.
The new luggage facility at this stage will help people from Indonesia, India and Malaysia, according to the SPA report. It is also likely to make things more convenient for pilgrims to traveling to the Kingdom and performing Hajj in the coming years.
Saudi civil aviation authority to provide improved Hajj luggage services
Saudi civil aviation authority to provide improved Hajj luggage services
- The initiative will make it more convenient for pilgrims to travel and perform Hajj in the coming years
- Saudi authorities also gave pre-departure immigration facility to pilgrims from a number of countries, including Pakistan
Pakistani banks to remain open on Saturday, Sunday to receive Hajj applications
- Designated Pakistani banks to remain open from 09:00 am to 02:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays
- Deadline to file Hajj applications is Dec. 3 while draw for government scheme will be held on Dec. 6.
ISLAMABAD: Designated Pakistani banks will remain open on Saturday and Sunday to receive Hajj 2025 applications, state-owned media said on Thursday, as thousands apply for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
Pakistani state media said this week that over 24,000 Hajj applications by Pakistani pilgrims have been received by designated banks.
Saudi Arabia has allotted Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, to be divided equally between the government and private schemes. Around 15 designated Pakistani banks started receiving applications for Hajj 2025 from intending pilgrims on Monday this week.
“Designated banks will remain open to receive Hajj applications on Saturday and Sunday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
It said that the banks will remain open from 09:00 am to 02:30pm on Saturday and Sunday to receive the Hajj applications.
The deadline to file Hajj applications is Dec. 3 while the draw for the government scheme will be held on Dec. 6.
The religious affairs ministry announced the country’s Hajj 2025 policy earlier this month, according to which pilgrims can pay fees for the annual pilgrimage in installments for the first time.
Under the government scheme, the first installment of Hajj dues, amounting to Rs200,000 ($717), has to be deposited along with the Hajj application, while a second installment of Rs400,000 ($1,435) must be deposited within ten days of the balloting. The remaining amount has to be deposited by Feb. 10 next year.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry said it had launched the “Pak Hajj 2025” mobile application to guide and facilitate pilgrims. The app is available for both Android and iPhone users.
Ghulam’s ton inspires Pakistan to 2-1 ODI series win against Zimbabwe
- Pakistan dismiss Zimbabwe for 204 runs in 40.1 overs to win third ODI by 99 runs
- Pakistan’s Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub and Aamir Jamal take two wickets each
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani batter Kamran Ghulam inspired Pakistan to a comfortable win over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Thursday, sealing a 2-1 ODI series victory over the hosts.
Pakistan piled on an impressive 303/6 at the end of their 50 overs against Zimbabwe, with Ghulam leading the charge with his 109-run knock from 99 balls while Abdullah Shafique scored 50 runs from 68 balls.
Pakistani captain Rizwan scored 37 runs from 44 balls as Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza returned figures of 2/47.
“A 99-run win in the third ODI to wrap up a series victory,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a post. “Onto the T20 action.”
Pakistan’s Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf and Saim Ayub took two wickets apiece to ensure Zimbabwe were skittled out for 204 runs in 40.1 overs.
Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine top-scored with a fighting 51 runs from 63 balls.
Pakistan bounced back from a shocking loss in the rain-affected first match with a 10-wicket win in the second, after a maiden ODI century from Ayub.
The tourists retained the same winning combination for the third ODI, with Faisal Akram, Abrar Ahmed and Salman Ali Agha the three spin options.
Zimbabwe brought in wicketkeeper-batter Clive Madande and fast bowling all-rounder Faraz Akram for their first game of the series in place of Brandon Mavuta and Trevor Gwandu.
The ODI series will be followed by a three-match Twenty20 series starting at Bulawayo from Sunday.
Pakistan’s national security directly linked to its economic security— PM Sharif
- Shehbaz Sharif cautions against growing militancy in Pakistan at National Security Workshop
- Reaffirms resolve to form political consensus on key economic reforms among stakeholders
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national security is directly linked to its economic security, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday, stressing the need for united efforts to ensure the country prospers as it grapples with surging militancy and economic challenges.
Pakistan has suffered from a macroeconomic crisis that has seen its foreign exchange reserves fall to historic lows and its currency weaken significantly over the past two years. The South Asian country narrowly avoided a sovereign default last year after it clinched a last-gasp $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Islamabad’s economic crisis has compounded its problems as it deals with a surge in militancy in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan. The country has been struggling to contain attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces from separatist and religiously motivated banned groups.
“I am very convinced that our national security has direct linkage with economic security, and both go hand-in-hand,” Sharif said.
Sharif said Pakistan had suffered economic losses of $130 billion due to the so-called War on Terror, adding that the country only received “a fraction of these losses” from allies. The rest Islamabad had to bear from its coffers, he said.
“This monster has come back and is showing its ugly face again,” the prime minister said. “And as I speak, on a daily basis, there is a sad incident in the south of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Balochistan, anti-Pakistan nefarious elements are driving this nefarious scheme over there through active support of Pakistan’s enemies.”
Sharif reiterated his desire to introduce a “Charter of Economy,” calling for political consensus on key economic reforms.
“Today, as prime minister, I once again reaffirm my resolve for the Charter of Economy,” he said.
In response to a question, Sharif said he agreed the government should not be in business. Rather, he said it should facilitate it.
“I believe Pakistan’s governments, whether it be in the center or provinces, it is not our business to do business,” the premier said.
“We should completely end this and hand it over to the private sector in transparent manner.”
Over 1,100, including 60 ‘illegal’ Afghan nationals, held in Pakistan after pro-Imran Khan protests
- Government has accused PTI of deploying Afghan nationals to take part in anti-government protests
- PTI says at least 20 of its supporters have been killed in security crackdown, government says four troops dead
ISLAMABAD: Authorities have arrested over 1,100 supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan who stormed the capital this week to demand his release, Regional Police Officer Rawalpindi Babar Sarfraz Alpa said on Thursday, saying 60 Afghan nationals living illegally in the country were among those being held.
Clashes broke out between law enforcers and supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party this week after they set out for Islamabad in caravans from different parts of the country to demand the release of Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023.
The government has accused the PTI of deploying Afghan nationals to take part in the anti-government protests.
Speaking at a news conference, Alpa said protesters shot directly at police officers and used teargas while police showed restraint.
“Police have registered 32 cases in the total region and till now have arrested 1,151 suspects successfully,” Alpa told reporters. “When these suspects’ data was checked, it came to light that there were 64 Afghans among them, out of which four have resident cards and 60 are illegal [nationals],” he said.
Police and Khan supporters clashed in Rawalpindi city near Islamabad on Sunday and Monday night, with the government saying four troops were killed. The protesters were dispersed after a late night raid on Wednesday, after which the PTI said at least 20 of its supporters had been killed.
Alpa said at least 170 police officers had been injured in the protests, including senior police officials.
On Wednesday, soon after the Islamabad police chief said Afghans were among those arrested in the protests, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced Afghan citizens would not be allowed to live in the federal capital after Dec. 31 unless they were issued a special certificate by the district administration.
The move is the latest blow to Afghans living in Pakistan, with nearly 800,000 that Islamabad says were residing in the country ‘illegally’ expelled since November last year when the government launched a deportation drive that has drawn widespread criticism from international governments and rights organizations.
Authorities began expelling illegal foreigners from Nov. 1, 2023, following a spike in bombings which the Pakistan government says were carried out by Afghan nationals or by militants who crossed over into Pakistan from neighboring Afghanistan. Islamabad has also blamed illegal Afghan immigrants and refugees for involvement in smuggling and other crimes. The Taliban government in Kabul says Pakistan’s security and other challenges are a domestic issue and cannot be blamed on the neighbor.
World Bank to help Pakistan’s capital combat smog, improve water and sanitation
- Smog has become a pressing environmental and public health concern for Pakistan in winter
- World Bank and CDA plan to work together to prepare a report to identify causes of the problem
ISLAMABAD: World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine met Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday to discuss collaborative efforts to address the growing smog crisis and improve access to clean water and sanitation in urban areas, an official statement said
The smog issue has become a pressing environmental and public health concern in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab’s major cities such as Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad, where Air Quality Index levels reached hazardous levels this winter.
Even Islamabad, which has historically enjoyed better air quality, experienced the problem this year, highlighting the urgency to deal with the issue.
According to the interior ministry, the meeting concluded with an agreement to prepare an anti-smog plan for the federal capital through a joint team of the World Bank and the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
“We are ready to formulate an anti-smog strategy in consultation with the CDA,” Benhassine said, noting that a detailed report would be prepared to help identify the causes of the problem.
Meanwhile, Naqvi said the government was introducing Islamabad Water as a dedicated entity to address the city’s water and sanitation needs.
The minister also noted that clean water and sanitation were among the government’s key priorities.
The World Bank has long supported Pakistan in addressing urban challenges, from infrastructure development to disaster recovery.
In recent years, it has financed significant initiatives, including flood relief and housing projects, to aid vulnerable communities and improve urban resilience.
The collaboration on smog mitigation marks a new milestone, highlighting the growing recognition of air quality as a critical component of sustainable urban development.
