Saudi Government Enhancing Hajj, Umrah Facilities: Tahir Ashrafi

Report By Syed Farzand Ali

The Saudi government is continuously improving Hajj and Umrah arrangements to provide maximum facilitation to pilgrims, said Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Chairman Pakistan Ullma Council. Addressing a seminar on “Hajj System for HGOs Pakistan” at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), Ashrafi revealed that 18 million Muslims have performed Umrah this year, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to enhancing pilgrimage experiences.

He stressed that while the Saudi government has set a deadline of February 14 for finalizing Hajj arrangements, Pakistan’s private Hajj group operators are lagging in preparation. Ashrafi urged them to modernize their systems in line with Saudi policies, rather than relying on outdated methods.

Addressing past issues, he acknowledged corruption and mismanagement in Pakistan’s Hajj system but commended the current government’s efforts to eliminate fraudulent practices. He credited Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain for making Hajj operations more transparent. Additionally, he announced that the government has partnered with a top-tier company for this year’s official Hajj program to ensure better services compared to private tour operators.

Ashrafi also criticized individuals who willingly spend large sums on Hajj but evade taxes in Pakistan. He emphasized Pakistan’s vast tourism potential, stating that religious tourism alone could generate $1 billion annually with proper planning. However, he lamented that Pakistan’s image abroad is sometimes tarnished by cases of begging and drug smuggling by certain travelers to Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

To improve the pilgrimage experience, Ashrafi called for better training for intending pilgrims and urged the FCCI to establish a dedicated fund for Hajj training programs. He also advised pilgrims to strictly follow Saudi guidelines, avoid unnecessary social media use, and respect the laws of both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to ensure a smooth pilgrimage.

The seminar was attended by FCCI President Rehan Naseem Bharara, Senior Vice President Qaisar Shams Guccha, Vice President Shahid Mumtaz Bajwa, and Secretary General Muhammad Ayub.