ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq has said the schedule for this year’s Hajj remains unchanged and that all necessary arrangements have been put in place for the pilgrimage.
His statement followed reports on social media about delays in Hajj schedule amid flight disruptions in the Middle East due to the ongoing United States-Israel war against Iran and Tehran’s counterattacks on Gulf countries.
Speaking at an event in Riyadh, Ambassador Farooq appealed to the Pakistani people not to believe unverified news circulating on social media and to trust only the information obtained from authentic sources.
“We do not have any such information about any change or delay in Hajj schedule,” he said. “The Government of Pakistan and our Hajj mission have made all arrangements for Hajj like the previous years.”
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.
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.
“I hope that Hajj will be held in the same good manner it has been held earlier,” Ambassador Farooq said.
