MADINA: The National Guides Establishment in Madina has introduced a computerized system for the safekeeping of the passports of 1.8 million Haj pilgrims. Dr. Yusuf Bin Ahmad Hawalah, chairman of the establishment, said an estimated 800,000 pilgrims are expected to arrive in Madina before Haj and one million pilgrims after Haj. Hawalah told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that a computerized system has been created to follow the movement of passports from the time pilgrims arrive at Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madina until their departure. This is to prevent the loss of passports, which has happened in the past. He added that employees have been trained to operate the computerized system which ensures tight monitoring of the cycle of the receiving and handing over of passports from one bus to another, to Haj employees on the arrival of pilgrims, during their movement between Madina and the holy sites, and until their departure to their countries following Haj. Hawalah expects a 10 percent increase in the number of pilgrims this year compared to last year and stressed that this increase will not affect the standard and volume of services provided to the pilgrims during their stay in Madina. The ongoing development work being carried out by his administration and all the sectors and agencies serving pilgrims will enable them to accommodate the increased number of pilgrims this year. He said they have focused on improving field services and increased their use of technology to reduce the number of errors accompanying field work. He said the unified electronic contract system includes electronic contracts for pilgrims' accommodation, in order to save time and effort for workers in this vital sector.
