Pakistan and Saudi ministers held talks to prepare for this year’s Haj in Jeddah on Thursday, with the agenda including transport, water, electricity and other service provision for pilgrims.

Sardar Mohammed Yusuf, Pakistan’s federal minister for religious affairs, who is leading a delegation to the country, met with Saudi Arabia’s Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar.

The Pakistan delegation included Suhail Aamir, secretary at the ministry of religious affairs; Manzoor ul Haq, ambassador of Pakistan; Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, director general of Haj; Muhammad Farooq, joint secretary at the ministry; Asif Memon, vice consul general of Pakistan; and Syed Rafeo Bashir Shah, director of the Pakistan Haj mission.

Saudi Arabia’s minister of Haj welcomed the Pakistani delegation, accompanied by the Kingdom’s deputy ministers Husain Sharif and Sahal Sabban, and Hosni Bostaji, the director general of the minister’s office.

Yusuf said Pakistan has excellent bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia and hoped that it would strengthen in future. He told Arab News the two-hour discussions were largely on preparations for this year’s Haj.

The topics included transport, air-conditioning in tents, water supply, electricity, health facilities, and allowing Pakistani non-governmental organizations to open local bank accounts to transfer funds easier, he said.

Yusuf praised the late King Abdullah for the services provided for pilgrims and expressed his condolences to Saudis on behalf of the people of Pakistan. He also wished the best for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the government.

Yusuf said there would be no change to his country’s Haj policy. “For the past two years, Pakistani Hajis have had no problems and no one has complained. It is our duty to make sure pilgrims get the best facilities. This year we will try to do even better,” he said.

He said that he brought a large delegation with him so that there would be adequate preparations for this year’s Haj. There are also programs underway in Pakistan to educate pilgrims about Saudi regulations and the Haj rituals. He praised the Saudi government for the massive developments underway including the expansion of the Grand Mosque, the new train lines being built and the upgrade of the Haj terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.

Yusuf also visited the South Asia Haj guide organization in Makkah and held talks with officials on various issues. The two sides signed their annual agreement after the meeting.