JEDDAH, 8 May 2008 — Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Haj and Religious Affairs Khursheed Shah discussed with officials of the Tawafa Organization for South Asian Pilgrims issues pertaining to Haj. Tawafa Chairman Adnan Amin Katib told the minister Pakistan is the only country where pilgrims are allotted accommodation in the holy cities before their travel for pilgrimage thereby sparing them a lot of problems. “It has now been decided that all other countries should do the same,” Katib added.
He said the government of Pakistan looks after their pilgrims in a better way compared to many other countries. Citing an example, he said that in 1986 Pakistan Haj mission provided fans to their pilgrims in Mina for the first time.
Shah praised the services provided by the Tawafa Organization for the welfare of pilgrims. He thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for providing excellent facilities to pilgrims.
The minister said he was aware of the problems of accommodation and that it was not possible to accommodate all of them within 1,000 meters of the Grand Mosque, but added he would try to ensure that they are not burdened by increase in expenses.
The minister requested the Tawafa Organization to allocate space to Pakistani pilgrims in old Mina and also persuade the building owners not to increase rent exorbitantly.
