The Saudi King has invited 60 Pakistanis to perform Hajj this year as his special guests, as part of a program that hosts pilgrims from various Muslim countries. Pakistanis, who include religious scholars and community leaders, will travel to the kingdom next week and enjoy all the facilities and services provided by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
The program, known as the ‘Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’, is an initiative by the Saudi King to invite pilgrims from different countries who have made significant contributions to their host country or to the Islamic world. This program covers all the expenses and arrangements for the pilgrims, including travel, accommodation, transportation, and guidance.
The program also aims to strengthen the ties between Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries and to promote the values of Islam and brotherhood. According to the Saudi embassy in Pakistan, the program has invited 1,300 pilgrims from over 90 countries this year for Hajj.
The Pakistani pilgrims who have been selected for the program include Hafiz Zubair Hassan, a religious scholar from Lahore; Syed Hayat Ullah Khan, a religious scholar from Peshawar; and Mohtasim Elahi Zaheer, another Lahore-based religious scholar. They have expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the Saudi King for his generous gesture and his care for the Muslims.
The pilgrims have also received bags containing all their needs for Hajj, such as Ihram clothes, pamphlets, and books. They have also been greeted by farewell parties in their respective cities, attended by the Saudi ambassador and the religious attaché of the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
The pilgrims will arrive in Makkah next week and perform Hajj under the supervision and guidance of the committees of the program. The committees will provide them with all the necessary services and facilities during their stay in Makkah and the holy sites. For them to increase their knowledge and experience, the committees will also plan cultural and educational events.
This program is one of the manifestations of the Saudi King’s keenness to serve Islam and Muslims and to facilitate Hajj for them. Saudi King has also allocated 500 places for Palestinian martyrs’ families to perform Hajj this year. Also, the Saudi government has taken all the precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of the pilgrims amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The program is also a reflection of the strong and brotherly relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which are based on mutual respect and cooperation. These two countries have a long history of friendship and partnership in various fields, such as trade, investment, security, education, and culture.
Saudi Arabia is Pakistan’s largest trading partner in the Arab world, with bilateral trade reaching $3.6 billion in 2022. Saudi Arabia is also one of Pakistan’s major sources of remittances, with over two million Pakistani workers living and working in the kingdom. The two countries also share common views on regional and international issues and support each other’s interests and causes.