Rami rituals in Saudi Arabia suspended due to extreme heat

On Monday, the Saudi government announced the suspension of Rami rituals until 4 p.m. during the final phase of Hajj 2024 and advised pilgrims to stay in their tents in Mina due to the extremely hot weather.

A government spokesman stressed that the safety of pilgrims was the top priority in this decision.

Meanwhile, a representative of Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs expressed concern over certain media reports that exaggerated complaints about the arrangements, causing concern among Pakistani pilgrims and their families.

The spokesman assured the pilgrims that the ministry is in constant contact with the Saudi authorities to ensure their well-being.

This year, over 2.5 million Muslims, including 160,000 Pakistanis, gathered in Mecca for the hajj. Despite some complaints about the preparations for such a large number of people, the spokesman viewed these as an indication of the overall success of the operation.

Saudi authorities oversee all aspects of the Mashair rituals for five days and this year promptly addressed concerns raised by some Makatib.

In response to the issues raised, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain called for an urgent meeting with ministry officials at the Pakistan Hajj Mission in Mecca on Tuesday.

The aim was to investigate and resolve complaints related to the Mashair days and to develop strategies to prevent future incidents.