Over 7,000 Pakistani pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia for Hajj

ISLAMABAD: Over 7,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims have so far reached Madina for the annual pilgrimage through 40 hajj flights.

According to an official of Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, as many as 393 intending pilgrims have reached Makkah Mukarma. They would leave for Madina after performing umrah and staying for 8 days. Pakistani pilgrims have been provided resident facilities at Markazia areas of Madina.

The pilgrims, according to the official, were being transported to Saudi Arabia from ten gateways including Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Multan, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Rahimyar Khan and Sukkur.

As many as 179,210 intending pilgrims would perform the sacred religious ritual this year. All pilgrims, male and female, have been asked to affix a Pakistan flag at their `Ahrams’ for identification. “Female pilgrims should carry at least two `Abayas’ preferably black colour,” official said.

Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has established facilitation counters in the Hajj directorates to provide round the clock services to intending Hajj pilgrims.

The pilgaims were being provided three times meal a day at their respective building in Makkah, Madinah and Mina, official said.

They were being provided round the clock transport facilities for Haram Sharif to their respective buildings and vice versa, he said.