ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has started to operate Hajj flights, and the first flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) carrying 300 pilgrims from Karachi landed in Medina, Saudi Arabia, early on Saturday morning.
The national carrier’s second Hajj flight, from Islamabad with 327 pilgrims on board, also reached Medina early today. Hajj flights are also scheduled from other major cities of the country, including Peshawar, Multan, Sukkur, Lahore and Faisalabad.
“We have made excellent accommodation, food and transportation arrangements for all the pilgrims with the cooperation of the Saudi government,” Imran Siddiqui, spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told Arab News.
He said that a total of 184,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj this year while the flight operation will continue from today (Saturday) till Aug. 15.
According to Hajj policy 2018, a total of 107,000 Pakistanis will perform Hajj under the government Hajj Scheme and 77,210 pilgrims will perform Hajj through private Hajj schemes.
“Our pilgrims have registered no major complaint regarding Hajj arrangements in Saudi Arabia in the past five years,” he said. “We are trying our best to come up to expectations of our Hajjis this year as well.”
Siddiqui said the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad remained open, even in weekends, to process visas and other official requirements for people intending to perform their Hajj.
He said that a total 1,550 pilgrims will depart from major cities of the country on the first and second day of the operation. The return flights will start from Aug. 28, he added.
The spokesperson said the ministry has uploaded all information regarding the pilgrims on its official website to facilitate them. “Pilgrims and their families can check their flight schedule online any time,” he added.
He said the pilgrims are also being provided with special identification lockets and vaccinated as well before their departure to Saudi Arabia.
The PIA will operate around 250 flights to carry more than 60,000 pilgrims, and the remainder will be transported by private airlines.
“We hope to complete the Hajj flight operation smoothly as all necessary arrangements are in place,” Mashood Tajwar, spokesperson for PIA, told Arab News.
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Pakistan begins Hajj flight operation from different cities
Pakistan begins Hajj flight operation from different cities
- Ministry of Religious Affairs says it has made excellent accommodation and food arrangements for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia
- A total of 184,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj this year
South Korea calls for resuming dialogue with North
- President Lee Jae Myung has sought to mend ties with the nuclear-armed North since taking office in June
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week dashed hopes of a diplomatic thaw with Seoul
SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called on Sunday for dialogue with North Korea to resume, after Pyongyang last week shunned the prospect of diplomacy with its neighbor.
Since taking office in June, a dovish Lee has sought to mend ties with the nuclear-armed North, which reaffirmed its anti-Seoul approach during a party meeting last week.
“As my administration has repeatedly made clear, we respect the North’s system and will neither engage in any type of hostile acts, nor pursue any form of unification by absorption,” Lee said in a speech marking the anniversary of a historical campaign against Japan’s colonial rule.
“We will also continue our efforts to resume dialogue with the North,” he said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week dashed hopes of a diplomatic thaw with Seoul, describing its overtures as “clumsy, deceptive farce and a poor work.”
Speaking at the party congress in Pyongyang, Kim said North Korea has “absolutely no business dealing with South Korea, its most hostile entity, and will permanently exclude South Korea from the category of compatriots.”
But he also said the North could “get along well” with the United States if Washington acknowledges its nuclear status.
Speculation has mounted over whether US President Donald Trump will seek a meeting with Kim during planned travels to China.
Last year, Trump said he was “100 percent” open to a meeting.
Previous Trump-Kim summits during the US president’s first term fell apart after the pair failed to agree over sanctions relief — and what nuclear concessions North Korea might make in return.
Since taking office in June, a dovish Lee has sought to mend ties with the nuclear-armed North, which reaffirmed its anti-Seoul approach during a party meeting last week.
“As my administration has repeatedly made clear, we respect the North’s system and will neither engage in any type of hostile acts, nor pursue any form of unification by absorption,” Lee said in a speech marking the anniversary of a historical campaign against Japan’s colonial rule.
“We will also continue our efforts to resume dialogue with the North,” he said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week dashed hopes of a diplomatic thaw with Seoul, describing its overtures as “clumsy, deceptive farce and a poor work.”
Speaking at the party congress in Pyongyang, Kim said North Korea has “absolutely no business dealing with South Korea, its most hostile entity, and will permanently exclude South Korea from the category of compatriots.”
But he also said the North could “get along well” with the United States if Washington acknowledges its nuclear status.
Speculation has mounted over whether US President Donald Trump will seek a meeting with Kim during planned travels to China.
Last year, Trump said he was “100 percent” open to a meeting.
Previous Trump-Kim summits during the US president’s first term fell apart after the pair failed to agree over sanctions relief — and what nuclear concessions North Korea might make in return.
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