Over 42,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia to perform annual pilgrimage

In this handout photo, taken and released by the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Affairs Ministry officials receive Pakistani pilgrims at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on May 30, 2024. (SPA)

• This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14 till 19
• Pakistan has a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for this year’s Hajj

ISLAMABAD: More than 42,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia via 174 flights to perform the annual pilgrimage, the Pakistani religious affairs ministry said on Friday.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey 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 Pakistan Hajj Mission will host 70,000 pilgrims under the government scheme, and more than 80,000 private pilgrims,” the Pakistani religious affairs ministry said in a statement.
“As of Thursday, 42,763 official pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia through 174 flights.”
In the next 10 days, another 27,342 pilgrims will reach Makkah under the government scheme, according to the ministry. More than 13,500 pilgrims have also reached Saudi Arabia through private tour operators.
The ministry said the Pakistan Hajj Mission was providing medical facilities to pilgrims via two main hospitals, a dozen dispensaries, and 282 doctors and medical staff.
“The main hospitals of Pakistan Hajj Mission have modern ambulance, laboratory, X-ray, ultrasound, ECG, minor OT, male and female wards, dental department,” it added.
Around 390 assistants, including Pakistani civil and uniformed officers, are working for travel and accommodation facilities of the pilgrims as well as providing food, according to the ministry.
More than 150 officers of the religious affairs ministry are facilitating pilgrims at the Main Control Office, Madinah and Jeddah Airports, Lost and Found Department, Madinah Departure Cell, Monitoring Cell, and Accounts and Administration Departments.
This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14 till June 19. Pakistan’s pre-Hajj flight operation, which began on May 9, will continue until June 9.