Putting final touches on Pakistan's hajj mission, officials announced that a total of 143,368 Pakistani pilgrims will perform the life-time journey this year, as the first flight is planned to arrive in Madinah from Karachi on Sunday.
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“Almost 33 percent of Pakistani pilgrims will arrive in Madinah,” Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, director general of Haj in Pakistan, told Agence France Presse on Friday, August 14.
"The first batch of pilgrims arriving in Jeddah will be received by Aftab Ahmed Khokher, Consul General of Pakistan, on behalf of ambassador Manzoor-ul-Haq," he added.
Akif said that the operation to transport pilgrims from various cities of Pakistan to the Kingdom will continue till September 17.
Flights carrying pilgrims will take off from Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan, Rahimyaar Khan and Sukkur, he added.
A total of 71,684 Pakistani pilgrims will perform hajj this year under a government scheme, arriving Saudi through 293 flights.
“The country is sending a comparatively less number of pilgrims this year, keeping in mind the expansion project at the Holy Mosques," Akif said.
"However, we hope the quota of Pakistani pilgrims will go back to normal, that is 180,000, from next year," he added.
Around 300 welfare staff, 450 medical team members and 250 government staff will come from Pakistan and 500 welfare staff will be hired locally.
The return flights will start on Sept. 27, with the first flight taking off from Jeddah, and the last flight is scheduled for Oct. 28, he added.
Muslims from around the world pour to Makkah every year to perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.
Hajj consists of several ceremonies, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can financially afford the trip must perform hajj at least once in a lifetime.
Hajj is officially expected to fall between September 21 and 26, with the climax falling on September 22 when the faithful descend the Mount `Arafat.
Over the past few years, the Saudi government has championed several projects to develop and expand Makkah to help more pilgrims perform Hajj and Umrah with ease.
In November 2009, Riyadh completed a five-story hi-tech Jamarat Bridge to ensure a smooth flow of millions of pilgrims during the pelting ritual of the annual hajj.
The bridge has 10 entrances and 12 exits over its four levels to allow the flow of 300,000 pilgrims per hour. It is also equipped with technology to help authorities intervene in case of any deadly stampedes during the stoning ritual.
Other projects were also constructed to expand the area on top of the holy Mount `Arafat, and develop the sewage and fire-fighting systems, in addition to upgrading health and transportation services.
