ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) on Sunday dismissed media reports claiming the ongoing Middle East war had prompted Islamabad to delay or suspend Hajj flights, assuring citizens that arrangements for the pilgrimage are proceeding as per schedule.
The ongoing Middle East conflict, which began on Feb. 28 after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s counterattacks on Gulf states, has affected key air corridors and forced airlines to cancel or reroute flights.
Pakistan’s religious affairs minister Sardar Yousuf said this month that the country has finalized arrangements for this year’s Hajj and that the first flight will leave for Saudi Arabia on Apr. 18.
However, media reports this week suggested the Pakistani government could suspend the Hajj flight operation, amid widespread flight disruptions in the region.
“The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has rejected media reports claiming that the Hajj flight schedule may be suspended due to the prevailing situation in the Middle East,” a statement from the ministry’s spokesperson said, describing these reports as “baseless” and “misleading.”
The spokesperson said the process of issuing visas to pilgrims is currently underway, while other administrative arrangements are being completed to ensure departure-related formalities are timely finalized.
“The official Hajj flight schedule will be announced after Eid-Al-Fitr,” the statement said. “At that stage, pilgrims will be provided complete details regarding their flights, accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, and other relevant arrangements.”
Separately, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq said all arrangements are in place for the pilgrims to perform Hajj in an “efficient and comfortable and safe environment.”
“Our authorities in Pakistan as well as the local Hajj mission have made all the necessary preparations for it,” he told Arab News in an interview on Sunday. “We are looking forward to a very good Hajj this year.”
According to the religious affairs ministry, 179,210 pilgrims from Pakistan will perform Hajj this year. Of these, 119,210 pilgrims will travel under the government scheme, while 60,000 will go through private tour operators.
Multiple airlines, including the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Saudia, will operate Hajj flights.
