First Hajj flight to depart on May 21
A Muslim pilgrim prays atop Mount Arafat, southeast of the holy city of Mecca, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage. AFP
Religious Affairs Minister Talha Mahmood on Sunday said that the first flight for Hajj pilgrims will depart from Karachi and Islamabad for Saudi Arabia on May 21, while the first team of assistants will leave on May 17.
Speaking at a press conference about the arrangements for Hajj, the minister said that there were some delays in the facilities related to the Hajj arrangements.
“Last year's Hajj was easy because 80,000 people performed the pilgrimage, which has now increased to 175,000 for this year,” he added.
He said that there would be difficulties in the upcoming Hajj, instructing pilgrims to “be prepared for a difficult Hajj”, adding that the efforts were being made to reduce the hardships likely to be faced.
The federal minister encouraged pointing out any shortcomings in the arrangements. He said that some pilgrims had complained to him in the Hajj camp as they did not have enough money for sacrificial animals. He added that the government was trying to reduce the cost of sacrifice for pilgrims by arranging a government-subsidised scheme.
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“The government will pay 720 riyals on behalf of the pilgrims for the holy sacrifice,” the minister said.
Giving details of the expenses, he said that in 2019, buildings in Makkah were rented for 2,600 riyals and, this year, they were being rented for 2,100 riyals.
He went on to add that travel cost was $1,000 last year and it is $900 this year. The task of taking buildings should have been completed in Ramazan, but we have done it now, he claimed.
Under the Road to Makkah, Minister Talha said migration would only be available at the Islamabad airport and 26,000 pilgrims will be traveling from the federal capital.
The federal minister said that every pilgrim will embark on the sacred journey after receiving training; otherwise, he warned, their schedule would be rearranged. Along with this, he claimed, every pilgrim will be given a free SIM card in Saudi Arabia as well.