JEDDAH: While the Saudi government should be commended for this year's peaceful Haj, much work still needs to be done – including the provision of more clean toilets, better access to medical facilities and regulating the roads better. This is the view of Abdul Salik Khan, Consular General of Pakistan. The toilets provided by the Moallims or Mutawaffin were “totally insufficient”. He said every Moallim had been assigned about 4,000 pilgrims but did little to keep the toilets clean, which were “unfit for human use”. What made matters worse, was that pilgrims living on the streets and roads were also allowed to use the toilets, causing huge discomfort to those living in the camps, he added. Khan said there were also insufficient toilets in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. He suggested that some companies should be allowed to provide portable washrooms at the holy sites which can be used by a pilgrim for a token payment of one or two riyal. Khan added that the traffic authorities must make a plan to regulate buses on the roads. He said there were between four and five lines of buses on the roads at the holy sites. There should at least be one lane kept open for medical personnel, the fire brigade and other emergency services.
