A Religious Affairs Ministry official said no Monday that the Hajj policy 2013 was being implemented transparently and accommodations for over 89,000 intending pilgrims of the government’s Hajj scheme had been hired.
He added that the Hajj flight operation would continue from September to November. The flight schedule would be finalized by the next month’s end. Special attention was being paid to provide quality training facilities to intending Hajis, half of whom would travel by Pakistani airlines and half via Saudi Arabian airlines, as per the Air Service Agreement (ASA) between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. 30,000 to 40,000 Hajis would be transported directly to Madina from Pakistan.
The official said that five percent of the total seats under the government scheme would be reserved for pilgrims recommended and funded by charitable institutions and low paid employees of different public sector organizations and corporate entities.
According to the agreement with Moassassah South Asia, government scheme Hajis would travel by train in Mashair and pay 450 Saudi riyals under compulsory pilgrimage dues for arranging sacrifice through the Islamic Development Bank.
Further, the official informed that the Hajj Medical Mission’s 540 personnel, 230 Mouvineen e Hujjaj (guides), 270 seasonal duty staff and 900 local Mouvineen e Hujjaj would be deputed for the Pakistan Hajj Mission. A comprehensive awareness campaign for education and training of the intending pilgrims will be launched soon, he added.