ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will conclude its month-long Hajj flight operation today, Wednesday, after five flights carrying 746 pilgrims arrive in Jeddah, the state-run Radio Pakistan said.
Pakistan started the pre-Hajj flight operation under the government scheme from different cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad, on May 21. The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage obligatory on every Muslim adult who is of sound mind and possesses the financial means to undertake the spiritual journey to Muslim holy sites in Saudi Arabia during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah.
This year, the kingdom relaxed coronavirus restrictions by lifting the upper age limit of 65 years and restored Pakistan's pre-COVID-19 Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims.
"The month-long Hajj flight operation of the government scheme will conclude as the last five flights carrying 746 pilgrims will land in Jeddah today," a report in Radio Pakistan said.
The state-run media said that the first batch of Pakistani pilgrims arrived in Makkah on May 21, adding that 172,210 pilgrims in total will perform the Hajj this year. Giving a breakdown of the numbers, Radio Pakistan said 81,880 individuals were performing the Hajj under the government scheme while 90,830 were performing the pilgrimage under the private scheme.
"To serve and facilitate Pakistani hujjaj [pilgrims], a contingent of 521 doctors, paramedics, and ancillary staff have already reached Saudi Arabia," Radio Pakistan said, adding that another 3,000 Hajj facilitators have also arrived in Saudi Arabia to facilitate pilgrims.
Pakistan’s moon sighting body met earlier this week to view the Dhul Hijjah moon and announced that Eid Al-Adha would be observed in the country on Thursday, June 29.
