MAKKAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said billions of riyals needed for conducting Haj pilgrimage annually is solely met by the Saudi government. He also warned illegal pilgrim and fake Haj service providing companies would be dealt with sternly.
“The amount of money the Kingdom’s government spends for the guests of Allah is beyond imagination. The state budget allocates the cost of Haj including services offered to pilgrims.
“The projects in the holy sites, such as the fireproof tents, Jamrat Bridge, Mashair Railway, road networks and hospitals are worth billions. There is also the expenditure for power and water supplies. Hundreds of thousands of temporary workers are recruited for Haj service.
“More than 20,000 people are working in the health sector alone while security is undertaken by 140,000 in the holy sites during the Haj,” Prince Khaled said in a press conference held at the Mina headquarters of the Makkah governorate on Thursday.
Prince Khaled, who is chairman of the Central Haj Committee, congratulated 2.8 million pilgrims most of whom completed their rites on Thursday.
The prince also congratulated Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, and Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif for the success of the Haj. The prince warned that unless checked immediately illegal domestic pilgrims would create chaos in the holy sites during future Haj seasons.
However, he noted that the number of squatting pilgrims fell by 20 percent this year compared to 2009.
“The issue of squatting and illegal pilgrims will be dealt with sternly and we hope that in a few years the phenomenon will be brought to an end,” the prince said.
The prince added that those who helped unlicensed pilgrims enter the holy sites would be treated harshly.
The prince also announced that the Haj Terminal Project at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah has been completed.
Arab News
