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Islamabad, The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony is implementing enhanced measures to improve service delivery for Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during this year’s Hajj season. This includes a new, more rigorous selection process for Hajj assistants and medical staff through competitive testing to ensure transparency and competence.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry has introduced a testing service for the selection of Hajj Moawineen (assistants) and medical personnel, marking the first such initiative aimed at maintaining high standards in service delivery. The Ministry’s spokesman detailed that 47,000 candidates took the written exam for 550 Hajj assistant positions, and 9,000 healthcare professionals competed for 400 spots within the Hajj Medical Mission.
The selection process was designed to evaluate candidates on multiple criteria, including psychological tendency, basic intelligence, Hajj-related and IT knowledge, and physical fitness, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of each applicant’s suitability for the roles. Additionally, the policy includes separate merit considerations for civil and uniformed officers and differentiates between fresh and experienced candidates.
The Ministry’s spokesman also noted that all petitions filed in courts challenging these new selection procedures have been dismissed, affirming the Ministry’s commitment to this reformative approach. The new measures are expected to significantly contribute to the welfare of pilgrims by ensuring that only the most qualified individuals are tasked with their care and guidance during the pilgrimage.