LAHORE: The National Haj Commission of Nigeria has approached the religious affairs ministry seeking help to develop a technology platform, devised by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) for Pakistani haj operations.

A press release stated PITB’s electronic haj management system developed in 2015 improved services for intending pilgrims and curtailed delays. During the recent haj, eight banks’ 7,500 branches processed online registration in 10 days through a centralised system of the PITB and conducted balloting in 45 minutes, which used to take three months.

The system also managed flight schedules and building allocations in two days.

Nigerian delegations twice visited Pakistan’s Haj Mission in Makkah to study the operations this year.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2016