The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has completed the first phase of a 10-day training program for Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj ahead of Hajj 2026. This initiative aims to provide Pakistani pilgrims with a seamless and well-organized pilgrimage experience.
The training program marks a shift from traditional briefings to structured, technical training. Officials drew inspiration from international best practices in Indonesia, Turkey, and Malaysia to improve on-ground operations in Saudi Arabia.
For the first time, participants were trained using digital maps developed by the Survey of Pakistan. They learned to navigate routes through smartphones and PowerPoint, ensuring accurate guidance for pilgrims during Hajj.
Rescue 1122 conducted emergency medical training, including CPR drills, while Islamabad Police provided crowd management modules. The program aims to ensure immediate assistance to pilgrims in Makkah, Madinah, Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah.
Coordinator Zulfiqar Khan explained that training modules were developed after studying global standards. Staff received digital navigation training to improve precision in directing pilgrims.
The program is divided into two phases. The first joint session is complete, and the second “Functional Level” phase will prepare teams for food, transport, and accommodation duties. This ensures effective handling of any crisis.
To maintain transparency, online quizzes were conducted at the end of each session, with over 500 participants scoring perfectly. Additional modules included road management and basic Arabic lessons from the International Islamic University. Female assistants were included to provide comprehensive support for all pilgrims.
Under the new Nazim Scheme, one supervisor will accompany 188 pilgrims on the same flight, managing their daily routines and travel to holy sites. As part of a pilot initiative, 23,000 pilgrims will travel between Madinah and Makkah via high-speed train, with Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj trained for platform management.
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A total of 870 Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj will serve in transport, food, and accommodation sectors, ensuring a smooth and safe pilgrimage for all Pakistani pilgrims during Hajj 2026.
