ISLAMABAD: More than 97,000 Pakistani pilgrims under the government and private Hajj schemes have arrived in Saudi Arabia to take part in the annual Islamic pilgrimage, state-run media reported this week, with Pakistan expected to conclude its month-long pre-flight Hajj operation today, Sunday.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring every adult Muslim to undertake the pilgrimage to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able.
Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which around 70,000 people will perform the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest will use private tour operators. This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14-19.
Pakistan kicked off a month-long pre-Hajj flight operation on May 9 to transport pilgrims to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for the pilgrimage.
“More than 97,000 pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia under both Government and Private Hajj schemes,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday.
About 65,000 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived via 243 flights under the government scheme while more than 36,402 have arrived under the private scheme, the state broadcaster said.
“The last flight from Pakistan will operate on Sunday which will end the month-long operation,” Radio Pakistan said, adding that the overall Hajj operation was proceeding as per schedule.
Muhammad Umer Butt, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s religion ministry, said the government has deployed 375 doctors and paramedical staff, and 511 assistants in Makkah to serve pilgrims free of cost.
A 400-member dedicated Pakistan Hajj Medical Mission is also working around the clock to serve Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has established two hospitals and 11 dispensaries in the Saudi cities of Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah to provide health care to Hajj pilgrims.
A government official said last week that out of Pakistan’s total quota of 179,210 pilgrims, around 160,000 pilgrims from the country are expected to perform the pilgrimage.
