LAHORE:
Minister of Religious Affairs and Interreligious Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf has announced that around 90,000 pilgrims will make Hajj this year under the government’s Hajj scheme, with Hajj flights from the 29th of this month.
As part of the Hajj 2025 policy, a total of 179,210 Pakistani will make Hajj this year.
The Hajj quota is divided equally, with 89,605 seats assigned to both the government’s schemes and the private Hajj.
Speaking at a press conference at LaHore on Sunday about the preparations for Hajj 2025, the minister said that Hajj arrangements are in their final stages.
The international airlines of Pakistan (PIA), the national flag carrier, will begin their flight operation prior to the HAJJ from April 29. During this massive exercise, more than 56,000 pilgrims will be transferred to Saudi Arabia through 280 flights.
These pilgrims will include 20,000 people who use the Government Hajj scheme and 36,000 people who perform pilgrimage through Hajj private operators. The PIA will use Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 for the transport of pilgrims.
After the Hajj, the PIA on June 12 will begin its flight operation after the Hajj to bring Pakistan back to Pakistan. This operation will continue until July 10.
The minister said that the officers of the Ministry of Religious Affairs will be present at the airports throughout the country to help pilgrims during their departure.
He stressed that a special approach to pilgrim training is being given, to allow them to avoid difficulties in Saudi Arabia. “The Saudi Minister of Hajj assured me that excellent arrangements have been made for this year’s Hajj,” he said.
Yousuf said that the first training phase has been completed, and the second phase of the training field will begin on April 8. Pilgrims must be prepared, and a special approach to training is being given.
He said that Hajj and Umrah are issues of faith, and any work done in this regard is considered an act of faith.
The minister said he had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and that he was following his instructions.
