Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader and government advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir said the Congress government had given top priority to Haj arrangements assurance for pilgrims from Telangana.
While addressing a Haj training camp in Nizamabad for Haj 2026 pilgrims, he said the government would support pilgrims at every stage. According to him, officials would ensure smooth travel, stay and assistance at Mecca and Madinah.
The Nizamabad District Haj Society organised the camp at Nizam Palace Function Hall on Bodhan Road. As many as 426 pilgrims from the united Nizamabad district attended the programme. This included 382 pilgrims from Nizamabad and 84 from Kamareddy. The session continued until 2 pm.
During the camp, religious scholars explained Haj rituals in detail. They covered travel rules, safety steps and accommodation systems. In addition, they guided pilgrims on common problems and solutions.
Separate seating and guidance were provided for women pilgrims. Moreover, organisers encouraged participants to raise questions. As a result, the session remained interactive and informative.
Haj arrangements assurance linked to Telangana government support
Shabbir Ali said Hyderabad would act as the embarkation point for pilgrims from 17 states this year. He added that Telangana received a quota of 11,757 pilgrims. Out of this, authorities had already cleared 8,286 applications.
He also said the Telangana Haj Committee had earned national awards for service quality. Telangana State Haj Committee Chairman Syed Gulam Afzal Biabani addressed the gathering and wished the pilgrims well.
Sharing his experience, Shabbir Ali said visiting the Holy Kaaba inspired deep devotion. He advised pilgrims to spend more time in Haram Shareef. He also urged them to reduce distractions, especially mobile phone use.
Later, Shabbir Ali launched development initiatives in Nizamabad town. He inaugurated a free skill training programme for unemployed women. He also laid the foundation for drinking water works worth ₹6.5 crore and opened a new Eidgah.
The skill centre will offer training in computers, tailoring, mehendi design and beautician courses. Shabbir Ali announced ₹10 lakh for road works and ₹25 lakh for building expansion. Additionally, he donated ₹2 lakh from his personal funds.
He also laid the foundation for three water storage tanks to address water scarcity. Finally, he opened the newly built Eidgah at Old Eidgah–Bodhan Road, constructed at a cost of ₹10 lakh. He said such facilities reflected the government’s commitment to minority welfare.
