Aitekaf to resume in Makkah

Pakistan seeks early Hajj agreement with Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD:

After a gap of two years, Saudi Arabia has decided to resume Aitekaf at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madina during the holy month of Ramazan, according to a report carried by the Saudi Gazette newspaper on Wednesday.

The announcement was made by Dr Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, in an annual meeting held to launch the presidency's plan for this year's Ramazan. He said that the presidency will soon start issuing permits through its official website.

"They will be in line with specific conditions and set criteria," Al-Sudais added. The Covid-19 pandemic has hugely disrupted pilgrimage to the holy land. The development came as Pakistan urged Saudi Arabia for early signing of an agreement for smooth sailing of the Hajj operation during the current year.

The request to the effect was extended by a Pakistani delegation led by Religious Affairs Secretary Sardar Ajaz Ahmad Khan Jaffar in a meeting with Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Abdelfattah bin Suleiman Mashat on the sidelines of the Conference and Exhibition of Hajj and Umrah Services titled “Transformation toward Innovation” in Jeddah.

It was observed that an early agreement would help the Religious Affairs Ministry frame the Hajj policy, including the timeframe for submission of applications by intending pilgrims and rest of the arrangements in an appropriate manner, according to a press release.

The secretary also discussed the Hajj expenses, quota, SOPs, Road to Makkah Project, Urdu help-lines and development of a mobile App, provision of economical camps in Mina and Arafat for both government and private Hajj schemes, and food hygiene.

Saudi Deputy Minister Dr Abdelfattah said his ministry would apprise the Pakistani officials soon about the Hajj quota and SOPs. He, however, asked Sardar Ajaz to take all anticipatory measures, keeping in view limited, moderate and full-fledged Hajj operation.