More than 40,000 Pakistanis have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, according to an official notification from Islamabad. The Saudi government has granted Pakistan its customary Hajj quota and lifted the maximum age limit.
This means that approximately 80,000 Pakistani pilgrims would be able to join in the government programme, while others will be able to go through commercial tour operators.
A total of 158 planes have been scheduled to convey the pilgrims. There are currently 27,686 Pakistanis in Madinah and 13,095 in Makkah.
The first group of pilgrims set out on May 22 from Madinah, where they rested for a week before continuing on to Makkah. In addition, about 1,000 pilgrims aided by private operators have landed in Saudi Arabia.
The ministry of religious affairs has evaluated 12 Hajj groups to guarantee compliance with norms and laws. They have also established a helpline to address any issues or questions from pilgrims.
The Hajj pilgrimage is a religious obligation for physically and financially capable adult Muslims that takes place in the holy towns of Makkah and Madinah.
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