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- Pakistan successfully concluded its post-Hajj 2024 operations on July 21, with nearly 160,000 Pakistanis performing the pilgrimage
- Officials say the government Hajj scheme offered ‘excellent’ accommodation, transport, food and services to pilgrims this year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has invited “practical suggestions” from stakeholders before the issuance of a policy for Hajj 2025, it said on Monday.
The statement came during a meeting of officials of the religious affairs ministry to review Pakistan’s arrangements for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.
The participants observed the official Hajj scheme offered “excellent” accommodation, intercity transport, food and services to pilgrims, according to the religious affairs ministry.
“In light of the last Hajj, practical suggestions should be prepared and submitted to the Hajj department for further improvement in the government scheme,” Religious Affairs Secretary Zulfiqar Haider was quoted as saying by the ministry.
Pakistan successfully concluded its post-Hajj 2024 operations on July 21. The annual Islamic pilgrimage was held from June 14 till June 19, with millions of pilgrims from all parts of the world performing the rituals.
Out of Pakistan’s total quota of 179,210 pilgrims, around 160,000 from the country performed Hajj this year through both the government scheme and private tour operators, according to the religious affairs ministry.
Pakistan’s national airline also announced in a statement it had concluded its post-Hajj operations on July 21.
“A total of 143 flights were operated in the post-Hajj operations out of which 61 went to Jeddah and 82 to Madinah,” the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said in a statement. “A total of 34,663 pilgrims returned to their homes after performing the rituals.”
Of these, 19,278 had performed Hajj under the government scheme and 14,754 through private tour operators, the airline added.