40 Pak pilgrims martyred, 63 missing: Dr Tariq

ISLAMABAD: The toll of Pakistani pilgrims martyred in the Mina stampede has reached 40 while another 63 are still missing, said Prime Minister’s Focal Person Tariq Fazal Chaudhry here on Monday.
Addressing a news conference, he said the Ministry of Religious Affairs in collaboration with the Saudi authorities had so far traced out 228 missing Pakistanis and reunited them with their families.
Among those still missing, 36 pilgrims performed Haj under the Private Scheme, while the rest of 27 were from the Government Scheme.
He said 35 injured Pakistani pilgrims were admitted to different hospitals in Makkah and Jeddah and they were also being looked after by a team of Pakistani doctors.
On the behalf of the prime minister, Chaudhry announced Rs500,000 and Rs200,000 compensation for the heirs of each martyred and injured pilgrim respectively.
He also announced that two to three family members of each martyr would be sent to Saudi Arabia for Umrah so that they could also visit the burial sites of their dear ones.
He promised the government would provide all possible medical treatment to pilgrims on their return to Pakistan, if needed.
He told the media that the Saudi government had released the pictures of all the martyred pilgrims and their pictures had also been uploaded at the official website of the Pakistan Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
To a question, the focal person said the Saudi government was yet to decide whether the martyrs be buried in Saudi Arabia or their bodies be dispatched to their respective homelands.
He said the government would keep the families of missing persons updated about the efforts till their recovery.
The focal person said while in New York, the prime minister was personally monitoring efforts for the Pakistani pilgrims.
The families concerned can contact at helplines 042111725425 if calling from inside Pakistan and 8001166622 for calling to Saudi Arabia.