Islamabad, April 2, 2026: The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony (MoRA&IH) has successfully concluded a mandatory four-day training program for its 306-member Seasonal Duty Staff (SDS), aimed at ensuring smooth facilitation of pilgrims during Hajj 2026.
The trained contingent—comprising officials from BPS-1 to BPS-19—will soon depart for Saudi Arabia under the guiding principle of “Service is Worship.” The team will be deployed in Makkah, Madinah, and key holy sites including Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah to assist approximately 119,000 Pakistani pilgrims.
The SDS includes 9 officers at BPS-19 level (Deputy Secretaries and Directors), 25 officers at BPS-18 (Section Officers and Deputy Directors), and 272 officials and support staff from BPS-1 to BPS-17, representing a broad spectrum of administrative and operational expertise.
Coordinator Makkah and Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj, Zulfiqar Khan, said that following the training of 870 Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj, the SDS personnel underwent intensive sessions from March 30 to April 2. He stressed that prioritizing pilgrims’ comfort over personal worship is the essence of their duty, adding that honesty, diligence, and timely task execution are key to a successful Hajj operation.
Deputy Director Operations Sadaqat Ali highlighted that, for the first time, staff received hands-on training in modern digital tools, including the Pak Hajj App, Nusuk App, and Pak Moavineen App. Participants were also briefed on the Command and Control System to ensure swift grievance redressal.
In addition, the training covered critical field operations such as Mashair camp management, food arrangements, Maktab coordination, and “Lost & Found” luggage handling to ensure a seamless experience for pilgrims.
Daily sessions, lasting up to three hours, were conducted by subject experts including Muhammad Hafeez and Adeel Mehboob, focusing on code of conduct and operational orientation. Technical and logistical modules were delivered by Nasir Aziz Khan, Jamil ur Rehman, and Shakeel Babar, while Akram Shafique, Ayesha Ejaz, and Haider Ali led sessions on Saudi regulations, food services, and Mina movement.
The program concluded with a formal oath-taking ceremony, marking the staff’s readiness for deployment and reaffirming their commitment to serving the “Guests of Allah” during Hajj 2026.
