Makkah Governor Urges Sincere Collective Work To Serve Pilgrims

MAKKAH, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23th August, 2016) : Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, governor of Makkah and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, stressed the importance of working hard to make this year's Hajj distinctive and well-organized, SPA reported.

While presiding over the Central Hajj Committee meeting on Monday, Prince Khaled, who is also chairman of the committee, called for sincere collective efforts to serve pilgrims. All should have a teamwork spirit so as to come out with a successful Hajj season, he said. During the meeting, a Ministry of Hajj and Umrah official made a presentation on the ministry's plans for Hajj, and statistical figures of the pilgrims who have arrived in the Kingdom from abroad via airports and seaports.

Until now, the number of pilgrims has reached 428,000. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed bookings for domestic pilgrims has reached 139,800. The presentation also covered the approved plan for grouping of pilgrims at the Jamarat and Al-Mashaer Train, for whose management a joint operation room has been established.

It comprises all the authorities related to Hajj. Meanwhile, 6,000 guides have been appointed.

Their task will be to create awareness among the pilgrims. The presentation touched on a report on the facilities provided to pilgrims with special needs.

All Al-Mashaer Train stations and the Jamarat Bridge have been provided with lifts, apart from 234 electric wheelchairs to transport seniors and those with special needs on the slopes of the Jamarat Bridge.

Special toilets have been constructed for them. Special lanes have also been allocated for people with disabilities. Work is in progress as well to build 36,000 toilets in the holy sites. According to the ministry's representative, the bed capacity of the hospitals in Makkah and the holy sites has been increased to 5,000.

About 203 seasonal health centers have been set up, apart from the centers located in Makkah, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. There will be medical caravans equipped with 45 buses and provided with 20 medical teams. For the first time, four strategic water tanks in Al-Muaissim will be operated.

Each water tank has a capacity of 767,000 cubic meters. Over 4 million bottles of Zamzam water of various sizes have been kept ready.