JEDDAH: Pakistan's Ambassador to the Kingdom Umar Khan Alisherzai has expressed his deep appreciation to King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Crown Prince Sultan, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, for their tremendous efforts, which resulted in the most peaceful Haj this year. Talking to the Saudi Gazette, the Pakistani envoy said that he had been directed by the president and prime minister of Pakistan to convey their congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and all the members of the royal family. He said that Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, deserves our special appreciation for managing all the Haj affairs. Alisherzai also lauded the extension of Jamarat Bridge and the holy sites train service. It would be pertinent to mention here that earlier Abdul Salik Khan, Consul General of Pakistan, had said that while the Saudi government should be commended for this year's peaceful Haj, much work was still required– including the provision of more clean toilets, better access to medical facilities and regulating the roads better. Khan said there were also insufficient toilets in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah to cater for the 2.7 million pilgrims who performed Haj this year. Khan said the Saudi government has provided a number of clinics and hospitals in Mina and Arafat, but access was extremely difficult because buses and pedestrians constantly jammed the roads.
