MAKKAH Al-Mukarramah, Monday, June 16, 2025 (WNP): The Pakistan Hajj Mission held a special ceremony on Monday to recognize and honor the exceptional performance of its welfare staff, whose dedication played a vital role in the smooth and successful execution of Hajj 2025.
Federal Secretary for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dr. Syed Ata Ur Rehman, attended as the chief guest and lauded the team’s efforts in delivering quality services to pilgrims. In his address, he emphasized the importance of strategic foresight and timely preparations, saying, “A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step. We must start planning well in advance.”
Dr. Rehman announced that early and specialized training programs would be rolled out for the entire Hajj workforce—particularly Nazims (supervisory staff)—to ensure seamless service delivery during the upcoming Hajj season. He added that pilgrims would also receive structured guidance starting from the moment of their registration.
Reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to transparency and excellence, the Secretary stressed that recruitment of Seasonal Duty Staff (SDS), welfare workers, and medical teams would be conducted under strict merit-based standards. “Specialization will be our priority,” he noted, adding that comprehensive knowledge of Mina and Arafat’s geography would be mandatory for all selected personnel.
He credited the seamless execution of Hajj 2025 to the strong coordination between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Office of Pilgrim Affairs Pakistan (OPAP), stating, “Our teams operated in complete synchronization, which ensured success on all fronts.” He pledged to strengthen this coordination even further in future Hajj operations.
Speaking at the event, DG Hajj Abdul Wahab Somroo praised the tireless commitment of the welfare staff, remarking, “It was your hard work that turned Hajj 2025 into a resounding success.” He vowed that the team would aim even higher next year, introducing more enhancements to serve pilgrims better.
Among the priorities for 2026, he said, would be allocating ground-floor accommodations in Makkah, Madinah, Mina, and Arafat for elderly pilgrims. “We’re committed to constant innovation to elevate the pilgrim experience every year,” he added.
Chief Coordinator Makkah, Dr. Mirza Ali Mehsood, reflected on the spiritual importance of the task, saying, “We are honored with this divine responsibility of serving the guests of Allah.” He applauded Dr. Ata Ur Rehman for implementing the National Testing Service (NTS) in the staff selection process, ensuring greater fairness, merit, and transparency.
Dr. Mehsood also praised the newly implemented Nazim system, calling it a commendable step that must be further institutionalized. He assured that the same level of commitment that drove pre-Hajj operations would now be applied to post-Hajj services to ensure a smooth return for pilgrims.
Makkah Coordinator Zulfiqar Khan expressed deep appreciation to every member of the 2025 team, saying, “My heartfelt gratitude goes to each individual who worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and comfort of our pilgrims.”
Other officials, including Coordinator F&C Sajjad Haider Yaldarm and Director Makkah Azizullah Khan, also addressed the ceremony and acknowledged the collective efforts that contributed to the mission’s success.
