9 catering companies serving food to Pak pilgrims in Makkah

ISLAMABAD: The Haj Mission of Pakistan, based in Makkah Al-Mukarrama is ensuring provision of food to intending Pakistani pilgrims residing in several buildings.

Director Haj Makkah, Faheem Khan Afridi, in a statement said that nine food catering companies approved by the Saudi authorities have been hired to provide breakfast and two times meal to pilgrims accommodated in different buildings.

He said that 70,000 Pakistani pilgrims were being accommodated in different buildings for 27 days to rotational basis. Every catering company is taking care of food of 5000 to 8000 pilgrims.

He said the catering companies were picked after adopting tendering process under prescribed government’s rules.As per Saudi Government’s rules, the kitchens of catering companies are established outside Makkah from where food is transported in special vehicles to residential buildings.

The food coordinators of Pakistan Mission ensure timely availability of safe food to pilgrims at their buildings where they are served in sitting area estabished in one floor of each building by workers of catering companies. “Food is prepared keeping in view of taste of pilgrims coming from different areas of Pakistan,” Afridi said.