JEDDAH, 31 July — Kanoo Travel, described as the largest travel management company in the Middle East, has appointed VAL Enterprises Ltd., a leading travel and tourism services organization as its business partner in Pakistan for Umrah, Ziarat and Haj services under the new Umrah policy of the Kingdom, which requires that all Umrah performers be sponsored by tour operators and travel agents. Under the agreement VAL will exclusively represent Kanoo Umrah Services (KUS), a division of Kanoo Travel, and be responsible for the retail of Umrah, Ziarat and Haj services to travel customers and wholesale distribution to all IATA and non-IATA travel agents in the Pakistani market. Nabeel K. Kanoo, executive GM at Kanoo Holidays and KUS, said at the agreement signing ceremony: “Pilgrims from Pakistan can now avail high quality, competitively-priced services including customized Umrah and Ziarat packages. KUS has been created to cater exclusively to the needs of pilgrims from all over the world, who converge on the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. KUS claims is the only Umrah and Haj operator in the Middle East accredited with ISO 9002 by providing the highest standards of service all year round. The association with VAL will help in realizing the full potential of the Umrah business market, thus adding the dynamism, energy and consumer focus that the travel business deserves.” Fawaz Valliani, president of VAL, said the objective was to provide pilgrims the peace of mind to concentrate on their noble duties by overseeing their needs from arrival to departure with services, including meet-and-assist at airports, transfers by coaches and limousines, hotel and apartment accommodations, and Ziarat tours to the holy sites. (KSR)