JEDDAH, 7 January 2003 — The first Haj flight from Pakistan with 270 pilgrims arrived here at 12:30 a.m. yesterday. The pilgrims — 151 men and 119 women — boarded the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight in Karachi.
The first two pilgrims to land at the Haj Terminal of King Abdul Aziz International Airport were Abdul Razzak and Muhammad Khalid Shamsi. Pakistani Ambassador Abdul Aziz Mirza, Consul General Tahir Iqbal Butt, the General Manager of PIA, Salim Nisar, and other officials from the consulate and PIA welcomed the pilgrims. Refreshments were provided by PIA.
The national airline operated 10 flights yesterday carrying over 3,600 pilgrims.
A total of 357 flights will bring 125,000 pilgrims from Pakistan. Of that number, Saudi Arabian Airlines will transport 10,000 while the remainder will travel on PIA.
The flights will arrive until Feb. 5 and return flights will begin on Feb. 15.
The Pakistani Consulate has arranged for special medical services to the pilgrims. Eight clinics have been opened in Makkah and a 50-bed general hospital has been set up in Ashraf Building opposite Ajyad Hospital.
The hospital will accommodate 6,000 pilgrims and some 125 doctors and an equal number of paramedics will be on duty round the clock. The Pakistani government has provided medicines worth 7.5 million rupees.
A group of 250 Khuddam Al-Hujjaj (Haj volunteers) has already arrived and has been given a variety of assignments.
The Haj directorate has arranged accommodations for 85,000 pilgrims. Another 40,000 expected to come in the non-group category.
Whatever the case, all facilities, including medical ones, will be available to them. Each pilgrim will be in the Kingdom from 40 to 45 days with eight days spent in Madinah.
