The Pakistani mass media have lauded the efforts exerted by the Saudi government and people to help pilgrims perform their Haj rituals with ease.

Radio Pakistan broadcast Friday a report on the efforts exerted by the Saudi government which contributed to the success of this year’s Haj season without any incidents. Many Pakistani television channels highlighted the exceptional measures taken by the Kingdom this year coinciding with the giant expansion projects.

After the completion of Haj rituals, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said that the Haj this year marked a qualitative turning point in the organization of the annual pilgrimage, marred in previous years by deadly fires and stampedes.

In 2006, more than 300 pilgrims were killed in a stampede during the stoning ritual while more than 250 were killed in a similar incident in 2004. The deaths prompted the Saudi authorities to invest billions of dollars in transport and other infrastructure to facilitate the movement of the huge numbers of people from across the world. The authorities deployed more than 100,000 troops to maintain security during the Haj. The movement of pilgrims was monitored by more than 5,000 cameras installed at the holy sites.