The United Kingdom has launched its Haj consular delegation to ensure a safe and trouble-free Haj for British pilgrims.

A British Embassy official in Riyadh told Arab News that the 15th Haj consular delegation to accompany British pilgrims to Saudi Arabia was launched by Baroness Warsi, senior minister of State, and Mark Simmonds, minister for Consular Services in the UK.

In a joint statement on the occasion, the ministers said: “We understand how deeply important Haj is for the British Muslim community and as such, we are sending a Haj consular delegation to the Kingdom once again. Saudi Arabia provides excellent facilities and services to pilgrims and we would like to thank Saudi Arabia for everything it does for British pilgrims during Haj.”

Both ministers said elaborate arrangements had been made for a safe and trouble-free Haj.

Simmonds said: “We are absolutely committed to providing consular services to British pilgrims during Haj.

We have consular officers on the ground in Makkah and Jeddah. We ensure that pilgrims have travel insurance and carry copies of their passports and other important documents. I hope that all those undertaking Haj this year will have a peaceful, successful and rewarding pilgrimage.”

“Our focus is to provide support to those in need of help,” he said.

Indian team

The Indian Haj Goodwill Delegation to Saudi Arabia this year includes Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Indian minister for health and family welfare.

Azad will arrive in Jeddah on Saturday. He is a veteran politician and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Azad led the Haj delegation in 1987 and had previously visited the Kingdom.

Dozens of lawmakers used to visit Saudi Arabia as part of the Indian Haj delegation, but the numbers were scaled down following a proposal from the Supreme Court to cancel sending a delegation altogether.

This year’s delegation includes Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, said Irshad Ahmad, consul for press, information and culture. Ahmad said Indian pilgrims would use the Mashaer train for the second time. Plans are in place to ensure hassle-free boarding because the Saudi authorities have reduced the number of pilgrims using train services from 500,000 to 377,000. He said the pilgrims would be grouped and sent to train stations No. 1 and 2 on a set time schedule.

Civil Defense ready

The Department of Engineering and Projects Affairs at the Civil Defense has said plans and precautions are in place for Haj. The department has set up mobile workshops equipped with technical equipment and personnel to repair malfunctions, leaks or cracks in the 180 buildings that comprise the headquarters of the Civil Defense in Makkah and Madinah.

Col. Khalid Al-Jadaan, director of the Department of Engineering and Projects Affairs, said that administrative tasks included establishing a new headquarters for civil defense forces and completing repair works, maintenance and construction on headquarter buildings.

Special divisions have been tasked with overseeing engineering design, maintaining property and supervising finance and training.

The Communications Division, which is part of the overall plan for emergency responses during the season, has set up more than 800 stations to strengthen services for telecommunications.

SOURCE: ARABNEWS