Saif al-Arab
BANNED
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2015
- Messages
- 8,873
- Reaction score
- 5
- Country
- Location
143,368 Pakistani pilgrims to perform Haj this year
Pakistani hajj pilgrimages arrive at an airport terminal for first hajj flight to Saudi Arabia in Karachi, in this September 8, 2013 file photo. (AFP)
Pakistani hajj pilgrimages arrive at an airport terminal for first hajj flight to Saudi Arabia in Karachi, in this September 8, 2013 file photo. (AFP)
FOUZIA KHAN
Published — Saturday 15 August 2015
Last update 15 August 2015 12:10 am
JEDDAH: A total of 143,368 Pakistani pilgrims will perform Haj this year, with the first flight, carrying 150 pilgrims, arriving in Madinah from Karachi on Sunday.
The operation to transport pilgrims from various cities of Pakistan to the Kingdom will continue till Sept. 17, Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, director general of Haj in Pakistan, said on Friday.
Flights carrying pilgrims will take off from Islamabad, Lahore , Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan, Rahimyaar Khan and Sukkur, he said.
“Almost 33 percent of Pakistani pilgrims will arrive in Madina. The first batch of pilgrims arriving in Jeddah will be received by Aftab Ahmed Khokher, Consul General of Pakistan, on behalf of ambassador Manzoor-ul-Haq,” he said.
Akif said that this year, 71,684 Pakistani pilgrims will perform Haj under the government scheme and will arrive through 293 flights. “The country is sending a comparatively less number of pilgrims this year, keeping in mind the expansion project at the Holy Mosques. However, we hope the quota of Pakistani pilgrims will go back to normal, that is 180,000, from next year.”
A total of 137 buildings have been hired for the government quota pilgrims in one single category for which SR3,000 have been charged, inclusive of transportation and food, he said.
“The accommodation rate in Madinah has been fixed at SR600 per pilgrim for an eight-day stay. Over 75 percent of Pakistani pilgrims will stay in the central area and a 24X7 shuttle service will be available for transportation,” he said
Around 300 welfare staff, 450 medical team members and 250 government staff will come from Pakistan and 500 welfare staff will be hired locally.
The return flights will start on Sept. 27, with the first flight taking off from Jeddah, and the last flight is scheduled for Oct. 28, he added.
143,368 Pak pilgrims to perform Haj this year | Arab News
Makkah chamber helps women with special needs find jobs
Dr. Abdullah bin Shaki Al-Ghalib Al-Shareef
Published — Sunday 16 August 2015
Last update 16 August 2015 12:21 am
JEDDAH: Dr. Abdullah bin Shaki Al-Ghalib Al-Shareef, chief of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has said that the chamber was making all efforts to create suitable jobs for national manpower as its contribution to provide job opportunities for those who are interested in working in the private sector.
He was speaking at a ceremony where 39 agreements were signed with various companies to recruit ladies with special needs in the private sector. The ceremony was held at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He said that the companies which have signed the agreement would recruit these Saudi ladies for distance working in various areas and provide them with a monthly salary of SR4,500 and medical insurance.
The secretary-general said that the signing of these contracts was part of the short-term solution to broaden the style of work from a distance as one of the latest areas where women can work.
He said that under this system, the work contract clearly mentions that the work would be from a distance. The nature of job, work hours, salary, other rights and facilities would be clearly described.
Al-Ghalib said the work would be done through means of telecommunications and information technology with the business owner taking care of such facilities. The distance work system is only for Saudi women and people with disabilities who have no problem in performing their duties.
Under the platinum category, the ratio of workers would not be more than 30 percent of the total Saudi workers. Under the green category it would not be more than 20 percent, and in the category of yellow and red, it would not be 10 percent.
In April last year the chamber provided 40 jobs for women under a special recruitment program for women with hearing and speech impairments. In this program 13 organizations and companies have participated with jobs such as data entry, packing, medical records makers, storekeepers, electronic archives and chef.
Makkah chamber helps women with special needs find jobs | Arab News
