MAKKAH, 26 February — Authorities put the final touches on preparations for the Haj yesterday as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom to perform one of the five pillars of Islam.
Interior Minister Prince Naif yesterday formally opened the Mina 2 transmission station set up by Saudi Electricity Company at a cost of more than SR54.5 million to beef up power supply to Mina and other ritual sites. He also laid the foundation stone of a supplies and provisions complex for the public security agencies in Makkah. The project is expected to cost SR13.5 million.
An estimated two million pilgrims, around two thirds of whom are from outside Saudi Arabia, will take part in the five-day ritual that starts on March 3. Official statistics showed more than 1,160,000 pilgrims from outside the Kingdom had arrived by land, air and sea by last night.
Prince Naif, who heads the Supreme Haj Committee, conducted an elaborate inspection tour of facilities in Makkah and the holy sites. The visit began at a parking lot for small vehicles on Makkah-Taif Expressway. He also watched a parade by several security units as well as health care and services personnel taking part in this year’s Haj operations.
Prince Naif also toured around the Muaisem abattoir project, the capacity of which has been increased to 600,000 from 400,000 heads of sacrificial animals in four days. He inspected the waste disposal plant attached to the abattoir. The animal waste is being converted to either fertilizer or industrial raw material. Last year more than 637,000 sheep, cattle and camels were slaughtered. The minister was also briefed on the projects commissioned by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing at the holy sites as well as maintenance works carried out there. The authorities, keen to ensure a Haj free from the tragedies of the recent past, have spent more than SR700 million this year to police the event better and avoid stampedes. Improved facilities include fireproof tents and water storage tunnels dug in mountains to help fight fires.
Prince Naif visited the headquarters of Saudi Red Crescent Society built at a cost of SR4.6 million. Its control room has been equipped with the latest telecommunications devices, computers and an ambulance fleet, including 13 vehicles with the most advanced facilities donated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd.
The minister also opened an exhibition focusing on Saudi relief efforts organized for the first time by the Red Crescent with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and 12 charity groups and government agencies.
