ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Ministry said on Wednesday more than 15,000 Pakistani pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage since the start of a special flight operation on June 6.
The first Hajj flight carrying Pakistani pilgrims departed from Islamabad on June 6. Pakistan has been allotted a quota of 81,132 pilgrims for this year’s Hajj, with 32,000 people using a government scheme and 48,000 traveling through private operators.
“According to the data released from the main control office in Makkah, 15,864 pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia. 1356 pilgrims who completed their pilgrimage to Madinah were transported to Makkah by buses,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Today [on Wednesday], 639 more pilgrims will arrive in Madinah by two flights,” the statement said.
The ministry said 234 medical staff, assistants and religious affairs personnel were engaged in administrative affairs in Makkah and Madinah.
“Two hospitals and six dispensaries are working under the supervision of specialist doctors and paramedical staff to protect the health of the pilgrims. All departments are being monitored under the supervision of Facilitation and Cooperation Department of Main Control Office,” the statement read.
This year Pakistan will operate 42 flights to transport 14,007 Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia under the “Road to Makkah” initiative.
Under the initiative, all immigration requirements are to be fulfilled at the pilgrims’ airport of origin. This saves pilgrims several hours upon reaching the kingdom since they can just enter the country, having gone through immigration already at home.
The Road to Makkah initiative also includes Indonesia and Malaysia.
Saudi Arabia has allowed up to one million people to join the Hajj pilgrimage this year, inviting pilgrims from foreign countries for the first time after two years of COVID-19 restrictions saw the annual pilgrimage limited to residents of the kingdom.
Pilgrims this year must be under the age of 65 and fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
