ISLAMABAD: Over 61,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims traveling under the government scheme have arrived in Saudi Arabia via 244 flights since last month, the religious affairs ministry said on Monday, as the annual Islamic pilgrimage draws near.
Pakistan kicked off its pre-Hajj flight operation on Apr. 18 and is expected to send over 179,000 pilgrims to the Kingdom for this year’s Hajj. The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement that 56,408 pilgrims are currently staying in Makkah.
“The spokesperson for the ministry said the number of government pilgrims who have reached Saudi Arabia has risen to 61,147,” MoRA said in a statement. “In the past 24 hours, an additional 4,875 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in the holy land.”
The ministry said 30,477 pilgrims have moved from Madinah to Makkah so far. A total of 103 Hajj flights has brought pilgrims from Pakistan to Jeddah, while 141 flights have brought pilgrims from Pakistan to Madinah since the pre-Hajj flight operations began last month.
“A total of 1,288 Hajj assistants/support staff have been deployed to facilitate pilgrims,” the statement said.
Saudi Arabia hosts millions of Muslims annually for Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars that must be performed at least once by every able-bodied Muslim with the financial means to undertake the journey.
Pakistan is among the largest contributors of Hajj pilgrims, with tens of thousands traveling to Saudi Arabia each year under both government and private schemes.
Many Pakistani pilgrims have been traveling to the Kingdom from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad under the Route to Makkah Initiative this year as well.
The initiative enables them to undergo immigration and customs clearance in Pakistan, allowing them to bypass lengthy procedures upon arrival in Saudi Arabia and travel directly to their accommodation in Makkah or Madinah.
