Date of Hajj operation from Pakistan announced

 Date of Hajj operation from Pakistan announced

The government of Pakistan has completed preparations for the Hajj operation across the country.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the first Hajj flight will depart from Islamabad on the night between June 5 and 6.

329 passengers on PIA flight from Islamabad, 220 passengers on Airblue flight from Lahore. The PIA flight from Quetta will carry 164 passengers and the national airline flight from Lahore will carry 393 passengers for Hajj.

It is also worth mentioning here that the start of Hajj operation has started five days late, the first flight was scheduled to depart on Tuesday, May 31.

Secretary Religious Affairs Aftab Akbar Durrani said that Hajj operation is moving ahead as per 2022 plan. Hajj operation has completed a new date by completing one month instead of six months.

Aftab Akbar also said that the training of more than 80 percent government pilgrims has been completed. Hajj pilgrims will be informed about the flights through website and mobile message.

It should be noted that the official pilgrims will reach Saudi Arabia via PIA, Air Blue, Surin and Saudi Airlines.

On this occasion, he appealed to all the pilgrims to ensure their participation in the ongoing Hajj training programs, while the pilgrims have also been directed to contact the respective Hajj camps.

On the occasion of Secretary Mawar Hajj departure, the staff of the Ministry, banks, airlines and other stakeholders are engaged for successful Hajj operation, while training of Assistant Hajj pilgrims has also been started on the direction of DG Hajj Abrar Mirza.

Assistants have been trained in accommodation, building, food and transport.

Talking to media, Director Dr Akhtar Abbas said that the assistants would provide all possible help to the pilgrims during Hajj. Assistants will serve the pilgrims with a smile.

Earlier, in his address to the National Assembly on Friday, May 27, Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor had said that the rates for Hajj were to be ''1.1 million this year under the rates at which the previous government had booked Saudi companies in real currency.''

The government has made better deals with Saudi companies and booked hotels at half price.

He said that the residential buildings in Makkah which were booked from 2600 to 3500 riyals per pilgrim during the previous government have now been booked for 2100 riyals.

Similarly, the rooms in Madinah which were booked at Rs. 2100 per week. They have been booked for 720 riyals so that Pakistani pilgrims can get cheap Hajj this time.

According to him, the cost of food has also been reduced as the present government wants more people to have the opportunity to perform Hajj.

In a briefing to Aviation Minister Saad Rafique last week, PIA officials had said that the Hajj operation would begin on May 31 and that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would fly from Jeddah to eight major cities in Pakistan from May 31 to August 13. And Hajj flights will depart for Madinah.

Aviation Minister Saad Rafique ordered the acquisition of a Boeing 777 and an Airbus 320 from log storage for this purpose. A total of 81,000 Pakistani pilgrims will leave this year, of which 32,000 will go under government schemes and 48,000 under private schemes.