RIYADH: Pakistan will send about 165,000 pilgrims for Haj this year with a large group of medical personnel to monitor the health conditions of pilgrims in the wake of swine flu, the newly appointed Pakistani ambassador to the Kingdom announced Friday.
Ambassador Umar Khan Alisherzai said the first Haj flight carrying Pakistani pilgrims is scheduled to arrive in Jeddah on Oct. 22, while the last flight to Pakistan will take off from the Haj terminal of King Abdul Aziz International Airport (KAAIA) on Nov 23.
“A total of 165,000 pilgrims have been selected out of some half a million Pakistanis, who submitted applications to perform Haj this year,” said Alisherzai.
He said the Pakistani medical team would work in coordination with Saudi health officials.
Under the new policy, Pakistan’s Haj group organizers shall cater to all the requirements of the pilgrims and the Pakistani government would take up any dereliction of duty reported against these groups seriously.
Asked about the progressively growing number of pilgrims, Alisherzai called on the Saudi government to increase Pakistan’s Haj quota to 200,000.
He said the entire Haj operation this year would be conducted in accordance with the prescribed schedule. A total of 146,547 pilgrims will be transported by Pakistan International Airlines, while Saudi Arabian Airlines will ferry 13,100 pilgrims from Pakistan.
About 131,647 pilgrims would land at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, while 28,000 would enter the Kingdom through Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Madinah.
Arrangements have also been made to provide pilgrims with shuttle bus service to attend prayers in the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah as well as in the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
