Islamabad: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, met with the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, on Wednesday to discuss matters related to Pakistani pilgrims. Dr. Al-Rabiah congratulated Sardar Yousaf on assuming his ministerial role and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to facilitating Pakistani pilgrims. Both ministers explored ways to enhance Hajj and Umrah facilities and expand the Road to Makkah project to more cities in Pakistan.
Sardar Yousaf expressed gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their commitment to providing excellent services to pilgrims. He highlighted the deep-rooted religious, historical, and cultural ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Dr. Al-Rabiah reiterated that serving Pakistani pilgrims is an honor for the Kingdom and assured that the Saudi government would prioritize resolving any challenges faced by them.
During the discussion, Sardar Yousaf raised concerns about registration issues encountered by Hajj pilgrims. Dr. Al-Rabiah assured that necessary measures would be taken to address these concerns. He also emphasized that Saudi Arabia has introduced several new initiatives aimed at improving services for pilgrims and pledged enhanced cooperation for Pakistani visitors.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdulfattah Mashat, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farooq, and Director General of Hajj Abdul Wahab Soomro. Sardar Yousaf appreciated the special attention given by the Saudi authorities to ensuring the well-being of Pakistani pilgrims and strengthening bilateral cooperation in religious affairs.
