Pakistan Successfully Concludes Post-Hajj Operations 2024

Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) has successfully concluded the post-Hajj operations for 2024, with over 160,000 Pakistani pilgrims performing the annual Islamic pilgrimage this year. Out of Pakistan’s total quota of 179,210 pilgrims, approximately 160,000 completed Hajj through both government schemes and private tour operators. The pilgrimage, held from June 14-19, saw millions of pilgrims from around the world gathering in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement on Sunday, Dr. Mirza Ali Mehsood, senior joint secretary of MoRA, congratulated Pakistani pilgrims on their safe return and the successful completion of Hajj rituals. He expressed gratitude to the MoRA staff, Hajj Moavineen (assistants), and the Pakistani Hajj Medical Mission for their relentless efforts in supporting the pilgrims during the post-Hajj phase.

“Moavineen and ministry staff, comprising officials and officers of grade 7-21, are deployed to serve these guests of Allah in the Holy lands of Makkah and Madinah,” Dr. Mehsood stated. “They are required to take care of guests of Allah. We should shun our arrogance, status, and authority while serving the Guests of Allah.”

Dr. Mehsood emphasized the importance of viewing the duty to serve pilgrims as a “rank-less” assignment, encouraging staff to make the most of the opportunity to serve. Zia Ur Rehman, the director of Hajj in Madinah, praised the operation’s success, noting that MoRA facilitated Pakistani pilgrims with food, accommodation, and transportation.

“He noted that due to demolition and new construction, it was very difficult to get accommodations in Markazia Madinah, but with our efforts, we arranged all accommodations for Pakistani pilgrims in Markazia, a significant achievement,” MoRA reported. Rehman highlighted that 66,000 Pakistani pilgrims visited Riaz ul Jannah, the area between the pulpit and the grave of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Madinah.

MoRA introduced several new initiatives for Hajj this year, including the Pak Hajj app, free SIM cards for pilgrims, and the appointment of Hajj Moavineen who qualified after passing the National Testing Service (NTS) exam. These initiatives significantly assisted Pakistani pilgrims throughout their holy journey.

“Jamil-ur-Rehman, Assistant Director, praised the Pak Hajj app as a successful and unique initiative that kept pilgrims in constant contact with the ministry,” the statement said. “The app provided access to complaints, training materials, accommodation details, flight schedules, and other services, greatly aiding pilgrims throughout their journey.”

Mushtaque Asghar, another MoRA official, reported that 36,900 complaints were received through the Pak Hajj app, out of which 34,979 were successfully resolved, showcasing the efficiency and dedication of the ministry in ensuring a smooth Hajj experience for all Pakistani pilgrims.