An updated electronic monitoring system has been launched by Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony for promptly resolving intending Hajj pilgrims’ complaints and monitoring overall Hajj operations with the aim to improve quality of services.
According to the ministry official, the in-built mechanism has been launched in collaboration with Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) to make Hajj management easier for the government as well as pilgrims.
The system has an in-built mechanism of transferring the un-resolved complaints to the next tier of management for taking appropriate measures. A Daily Situation Report (DSR) would be generated for the information of senior management.
The Hajj monitoring system would also oversee Hajj Group Organisers’ (HGOs) performance. It was a comprehensive portal that comes with a variety of value-added features designed to cater the specific needs of all pilgrims.
A helpline has also been dedicated for responding to inquiries, complaints of Hujjaj, besides developing android application named ‘Pak Hajj Moavin,’ ‘Pak Hajj Guide’ and Mobile Short Messaging Service (SMS) for dissemination of information.
The ministry’s inspection team would monitor the overall performance of Hajj operations.The complaints could also be registered through on-line complaint registration portal. The monitoring and supervision mechanism for Hajj operation in Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was being strengthened to check/review the performance of government and HGOs schemes, in accordance with the contractual obligations and Hajj rules of Saudi Arabia. Further, the Hajj Group Organizers-Management Information System (HGO-MIS) would be updated, strengthened and more modules would be added in it on the basis of experience gained in Hajj 2022.
This system would facilitate in keeping a strict check on the performance of the government and Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs) Schemes, in accordance with the contractual obligations and Saudi Taleemat.
Meanwhile, a five-day training workshop continued for intending Hajj pilgrims by the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the Al-Hamra Arts Council in Lahore on Monday.
Former director general Hajj Faruukh Aftab Zaidi chaired the session while Deputy Director of Hajj Punjab Muhammad Mujeeb Akbar Shah, Master Trainers Younis Mughal, Allama Imran Bashir, Qari Abdul Wahid Qureshi and others briefed the pilgrims about various matters on the third day of the training.
On the occasion, Deputy Director Hajj Muhammad Mujeeb Akbar Shah said that the Hajj Directorate was making every effort to provide complete training and facilities to pilgrims so that they could avoid any difficulty in performance of Hajj.
“We must seek guidance from ulema regarding performance of Hajj in an exact manner,” he said. Master Trainer Hajj Younis Mugal said this year, the Saudi government had directed all pilgrims to bring a smart/android mobile phone with them. He informed that the Saudi government had created two mobile applications for Hajj pilgrims called “Tawakkalna” and “Etemarna” which could be downloaded from Google play/app stores. Applicants will need ID cards, passports and visa numbers to install the mobile application.