“Tamgha-e-Imtiaz” Conferred on Abrar Tanoli for Volunteerism

Shazia Mehboob

Riyadh: Abrar Hussain Tanoli, a financial professional based in Saudi Arabia and a native of Mansehra district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, has been awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in recognition of his decade-long services to Pakistani pilgrims and the wider Pakistani community in the Kingdom.

Abrar Tanoli was among two Pakistanis honoured with the prestigious civil award for their outstanding social and community services in Saudi Arabia. The awards were presented during a special ceremony organised by the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Farooq, presented the awards on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari. Tanoli, Convener of the Pakistan Hajj Volunteers Group (PHVG), and Dr Asadullah Roomi, President of the Pakistan Doctors Group in Riyadh, were recognised for their sustained contributions to community welfare.Tanoli is a founding member and Riyadh Coordinator of PHVG, which has been assisting pilgrims during Hajj since its establishment in 2011. Over the years, he has played a key role in mobilising, coordinating and training Pakistani volunteers from across Saudi Arabia to provide assistance to pilgrims.

The volunteers provide a range of essential services, including guiding pilgrims to their designated tents, assisting wheelchair users, helping pilgrims navigate Hajj facilities and facilitating Tawaaf-e-Ziyarah for sick and injured pilgrims receiving treatment at Pakistan Medical Mission facilities.

PHVG works in close coordination with the Pakistani Hajj Mission, the Embassy of Pakistan and relevant Saudi authorities. In 2024, the organisation mobilised and trained more than 1,500 volunteers to serve pilgrims, with their contributions recognised by Saudi authorities.

Highlighting the importance of their work, Ambassador Ahmed Farooq said the volunteers perform a challenging task around the clock during the five days of Hajj, continuing their services despite the extreme heat.Farooq said the volunteers assist pilgrims requiring medical attention, those who become separated from their groups and people needing wheelchairs or other support. Importantly, their services are not restricted to Pakistani pilgrims but are available to anyone in need of assistance.

Ambassador Farooq said the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also facilitates the volunteers by providing information about pilgrims requiring assistance. He said this coordination reflects the recognition by Saudi authorities of the valuable role played by the volunteers during Hajj.

“We are very proud of all three of you for the work that you have done and for the good way that you have carried out these services,” Ambassador Farooq said.

For Tanoli, the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz represents recognition of a volunteer journey that extends well beyond Hajj services. For the past decade, he has also been actively involved in organising free medical camps for the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the Pakistan Doctors Group and the Embassy of Pakistan. The initiatives have provided healthcare services to community members, particularly those in need.

Tanoli is also a founding member of the Al-Bir Group, which provides assistance to Pakistanis facing financial hardship and other social challenges.His community service became particularly significant during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he played an active role through PHVG in supporting stranded Pakistani families. Volunteers helped arrange and distribute food, medicines and other essential supplies to families struggling to meet their basic needs during the crisis.

His welfare activities have also extended to Pakistan, where he continues to provide financial assistance and support to underprivileged families, deserving individuals and communities facing hardship.

The Tamgha-e-Imtiaz awarded to Tanoli therefore marks more than recognition for his Hajj volunteerism. It reflects a decade-long record of community service encompassing pilgrim assistance, healthcare support, emergency relief and social welfare.

Alongside his professional career in the financial sector, Tanoli has continued to dedicate his time and resources to supporting Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, making community service a sustained part of his public contribution.