Majority of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia as flight operation continues
By Sadia Khan :
More than 60% of Pakistani pilgrims scheduled to perform Hajj this year have arrived in Saudi Arabia, as the country’s pre-Hajj flight operation continues ahead of the completion deadline later this month.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, around 61% of the total Hajj quota has already reached the kingdom through 282 flights operating from different cities across Pakistan.
Officials said the arrivals included pilgrims travelling under the “Route to Makkah” initiative, a Saudi-backed programme aimed at streamlining immigration procedures for Hajj travellers before departure from their home countries.
Under the ongoing operation, 143 flights carrying Pakistani pilgrims landed directly in Madinah, while another 139 flights arrived at Jeddah airport, the ministry said.
Authorities added that the remaining 39% of pilgrims are expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia by 21 May as flight operations continue according to schedule.
At present, nearly 67,900 Pakistani pilgrims are staying in Makkah, while more than 4,100 are currently in Madinah before proceeding to the holy sites for Hajj rituals.
To manage the large-scale movement of pilgrims, the ministry said more than 1,300 assistants and volunteers had been deployed in Saudi Arabia to help travellers move from airports to their accommodation facilities and provide logistical support during the pilgrimage.
Officials stated that the teams were working continuously to ensure smooth transportation, accommodation arrangements and guidance services for pilgrims arriving from across Pakistan.
Pakistan is among the countries allocated one of the world’s largest Hajj quotas due to its sizeable Muslim population. Each year, tens of thousands of Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia under both government and private Hajj schemes to perform the annual pilgrimage, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.
The Saudi authorities have increasingly introduced digital and administrative reforms in recent years to improve crowd management, immigration processing and transportation services for millions of pilgrims arriving from around the world.
Pakistani officials say the Route to Makkah initiative has significantly reduced waiting times and immigration-related difficulties for pilgrims by allowing many formalities to be completed before departure.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has said it expects the entire Pakistani Hajj flight operation to conclude within the announced timeframe, with arrangements continuing for accommodation, transport and medical support services throughout the pilgrimage season.
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