MAKKAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has ordered the hosting of 1,000 Haj pilgrims from various countries this year as part of a guest pilgrims program supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Call and Guidance.
“The royal gesture shows the interest of the king in the welfare of Muslims the world over and his desire to strengthen Islamic relations based on the Book of God and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him),” said Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.
The minister added that the guests would be drawn from Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Asia and Africa. In all 14,068 people have come for Haj as part of the program so far, he added.
The ministry takes every step to make the program a success and make the Haj comfortable for pilgrims, the minister added.
“Various committees have been formed to undertake the guest pilgrims program ... The committee will also see that the guests visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah,” he said.
In a related development, the director of the Office for the Guidance of Pilgrim Buses stressed the need to install toll free telephones so that bus stations can easily contact related agencies in the event of an accident or breakdown. “This is needed especially if a bus loses its way, breaks down or an accident occurs while carrying pilgrims to Makkah or Madinah and back,” said Faisal Al-Asrah, director of the office.
Al-Asrah said his office keeps track of the pilgrims and the buses that carry them when they leave King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah or Prince Muhammad Airport in Madinah until they reach the Shumaisy checkpoint outside Makkah.
His office also sends guides to direct bus drivers. The office is headquartered in Makkah and has branches in Madinah, at KAIA and in Shuamaisy.
Meanwhile, checkpoints have been set up by the Passport Department outside Makkah to ensure pilgrims do not enter the holy city without Haj permits.
“The task of the inspectors of the Passport Department is to make sure Saudis or non-Saudis entering Makkah carry valid Haj permits,” said Capt. Fahd Al-Mudlij, a spokesman for the Passport Department.
He added that 90 inspectors have been manning the 12 entry points to Makkah since the beginning of the month. He also said the number of Haj permit violators are fewer this year compared to previous years.
