ISLAMABAD: According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, 41,477 Pakistani pilgrims have reached Madinah Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia, under the government and private Hajj schemes.
Over the next 10 days, an additional 28,628 pilgrims are expected to reach Madinah. The Pakistan Hajj Mission is set to host a total of 70,105 pilgrims under government schemes and 80,000 under private schemes.
Upon arrival, the pilgrims are transported from the airport to residential buildings in Markazia, just a 15-20 minute walk from Masjid e Nabvi and Roza-e-Rasool (SAW), via luxurious buses.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a sacred pilgrimage. Each year, millions of Muslims from around the world travel to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Hajj. It takes place annually during the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.
Hajj begins on the 8th of Zul Hijjah and lasts approximately five to six days, depending on the sighting of the moon.
After the sighting of the new crescent moon, Muslims worldwide celebrate the four-day festival of Eidul Adha.
Meanwhile, King Salman ordered the hosting of 2,322 Hajj pilgrims on Tuesday, including 1000 family members of Palestinians who have been killed, wounded, or imprisoned by Israel.
Additionally, 1,300 people from over 88 countries and 22 family members of conjoined twins separated in the Kingdom will be hosted for the pilgrimage, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
This initiative is part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah, overseen by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance.
Since its inception 26 years ago, the program has hosted over 60,000 pilgrims.
Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh stated that this order demonstrates the Saudi leadership’s ongoing commitment to supporting Muslims worldwide and fostering unity and brotherhood among them by facilitating their participation in Hajj at the king’s expense.
