Acknowledging that pilgrims from his country faced accommodation and transportation problems during this year's Haj, Maulana Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Pakistani Minister of Religious Affairs, said more efforts will be exerted in future to resolve the issue. Addressing a seminar “Benazir Bhutto & Millat-e-Islamia” here this week, the minister conceded that at least 450 more buses were required for transporting pilgrims to the holy sites. Operating Haj is totally different from performing Haj, he said, adding that this was his first experience in managing the Haj affairs and he has realized the many shortcomings. “Next year, God willing, the pilgrimage will be smooth and comfortable,” he assured the gathering. Paying tributes to Benazir Bhutto who fell victim to terrorism last year, Kazmi said she was a great leader and politician who “did a great job in developing Pakistan's cordial relations with the Muslim World. Other speakers including Engineer Rasheed Chishti, Mushtaq Khan, Naseem-e-Saher, Arshad Raja, Dilshad Jani, and Asad Akram, PPP coordinator in Mideast, appreciated the Kingdom's Haj arrangements. They also lauded the services of Benazir Bhutto in the restoration of democracy in Pakistan and human rights. The seminar, organized by Engineer Aziz Ahmed, president of Pakistan People's Party – Saudi Arabia, was attended by a large number of Pakistani community members.
