JEDDAH: The General Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques is hosting a visit from prominent Pakistani academics and members of the media to perform Umrah pilgrimage. The Pakistani guests expressed their gratitude for the efforts of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, evidenced in expansions and construction work at the Two Holy Mosques and further lauded the King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Program for extension to the “Mas'a” area and expansion to the north courtyard of the Grand Mosque. The visitors also praised the shading of courtyard areas at the Prophet's Mosque which they said would “greatly facilitate the performing of Haj and Umrah rituals and visits in general”. The visit program includes Umrah rituals and a visit to the Prophet's Mosque in Madina, as well as meetings with the imams of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque and a number of senior scholars and preachers. It also includes visits to historic sites in the two cities. Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hussayen, President General of Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, met with the Pakistani visitors in Makkah Thursday and briefed them on the tasks of the Presidency in serving guests and pilgrims, and answered queries on projects concerning the Two Holy Mosques.