By ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has urged the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Haj & Umrah to conduct a detailed study on how to end the problem of squatters in public places during the Haj season.

He also urged the institute’s researchers to conduct studies on the issue of people performing the annual pilgrimage without obtaining valid Haj permits from Saudi authorities.

“I want this institute to become a lighthouse of research in Makkah,” the governor said, expressing hope that the institute would be transformed into a college in the near future considering its important role in improving services for the millions of pilgrims who come to Makkah for Haj and Umrah.

Prince Khaled thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for changing the name of Haj research institute affiliated to Umm Al-Qura University.

Prince Khaled made this comment while receiving Bakri Assas, president of Umm Al-Qura University and chairman of the committee that supervises the institute, and Abdul Aziz Sarouji, the institute’s dean, as well as its senior officials.

The governor commended the contributions made by the institute during the past years. “We have benefited a lot from its research and studies while carrying out the various development projects in Makkah and the holy sites,” the prince said.

He specifically noted the institute’s support to designing the new expansions of the Grand Mosque and the mataf, the circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba. He urged the officials to exert more efforts toward improving services for pilgrims.

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