- JEDDAH: Haj Minister Bandar Al-Hajjar and Pakistan’s federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah signed the Haj agreement for the year 2012 at the Ministry of Haj office here, including the increase in the quota of Hajis by 10,000.
Some of the important features of the accord this year include:
l The number of Pakistani Haj pilgrims is expected to be increased by 10,000 pilgrims from the number allotted last year
l All Pakistani pilgrims will use the electric rail services during Haj 1433 instead of buses for transport during the actual Haj days (from Mina to Arafat to Mina)
l A contingent of 1,890-strong Khuddam ul Hujjaj and Medical Mission will arrive from Pakistan to serve the Pakistani pilgrims.
l Around 30,000 pilgrims will arrive in Madinah, directly from Pakistan.
l The first Haj flight to reach Saudi Arabia on 1st of Dhul Qaada 1433 (Sept. 17). The last Haj flight will reach KSA on 4th Dhul Hijjah. (Oct. 20).
l Post-Haj flight operations will begin with the departure of first Haj flight from KSA to Pakistan on 14th Dhul Hijjah 1433 (Oct. 30)
l Haj visas would be issued to pilgrims holding digital international passports (MRP) only.
l For the first time, pilgrims will be allowed to carry specially prepared Zamzam cans packed and supplied by Khadim ul Haramain Project for supply of Zamzam water.
l All those airlines having licenses to operate inside KSA and have offices in Saudi Arabia, including Makkah and Madinah, and approved by Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority, would be allowed to transport Pakistani pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The Pakistani minister was accompanied by senior functionaries including Shaukat Hayat Durrani, secretary at Ministry of Religious Affairs, Salik Khan, consul general of Pakistan at Jeddah, Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, director general Haj, Sohail Ali Khan, consul, Syed Rafeo Bashir Shah, director Pakistan Haj Mission and Bahrullah Hazarvi, director in the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Earlier, Shah presented a letter from Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani to the Saudi minister.
Gilani, in his letter, expressed gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Naif and the Haj Ministry for the immense services and numerous steps being taken for the comforts of for and Haj pilgrims.