SUKKUR, Apr 24: An inter departmental meeting to review arrangements for Hajj 1447 AH/2026 was held at the Commissioner Office conference hall, chaired by Additional Commissioner-I Sukkur Dr Muhammad Amir Ansari.
According to a handout issued here on Friday, the meeting was attended by Commanding Officer ASF Sukkur Farooq Ahmed, PIA Station Manager Pervaiz Ali Soomro, Assistant Director Haj Abdul Ghani, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Pir Wahid Bux, XEN SEPCO Sukkur Khalil Ahmed, Assistant Commissioner General Athar Hussain Memon, Assistant Commissioner New Sukkur Bushra Mansoor, Assistant Commissioner Sukkur City Sarah Faraz, along with officers and representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority, police, FIA, Customs and Anti Narcotics Force.
The meeting discussed measures to improve facilities for intending pilgrims and stressed completing all required arrangements before the announcement of vaccination for Haj pilgrims.
Dr Amir Ansari directed the police representative to ensure foolproof security and traffic management for pilgrims by deploying adequate personnel at and around Begum Nusrat Bhutto Airport, Sukkur. He ordered setting up a temporary police check post and installation of a walk-through gate at the main corridor of the Haj Complex 10 days before the first Haj flight scheduled for May 2. Police personnel will perform security duties at the post until the completion of Haj operations, he said.
He further directed deployment of a mobile police squad to prevent any untoward incident during the movement of buses from the Haj Complex to Sukkur Airport. Special instructions were issued to police for patrolling the Haj Complex.
Officials of Sukkur Municipal Corporation and Solid Waste Management were directed to perform their duties efficiently during Haj operations. Orders were issued for deployment of male and female sanitary staff at the Haj Complex, trimming of extra tree branches along routes, water supply, street lighting and other arrangements.
The Additional Commissioner directed the health department representative to establish a temporary dispensary at the Haj Complex from May 2 till the last Haj flight. Male and female doctors and paramedical staff will be assigned 24-hour shift duties to provide first aid to pilgrims. He also called for additional paramedical staff for vaccination, availability of ambulances and oxygen, and round the clock fogging to prevent the spread of diseases.
The XEN SEPCO was directed to avoid load-shedding during Haj operations from May 2 to May 20 and to set up a temporary camp office with technical staff at the Haj Complex to promptly address any electricity-related issues.
The meeting noted that the Civil Aviation Authority would be responsible for providing adequate space and facilities to agencies for customs clearance, displaying awareness documentaries and paper-based material for pilgrims in the Haj lounge, and making necessary announcements.
Officials added that a WhatsApp group is being formed to ensure better inter-departmental coordination during Haj operations so that any issue arising from miscommunication can be resolved immediately.
Facilitating Haj pilgrims is the joint responsibility of all departments concerned, Dr Amir Ansari said.
