More than 30,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims remain in the Saudi city of Madinah as authorities wind down the final phase of this year’s pilgrimage operation, with flights from Jeddah set to conclude today, Tuesday, and the last return flight from Madinah scheduled for June 30, Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry said.
Nearly 179,000 Pakistanis performed Hajj this year, one of the five pillars of Islam that must be undertaken at least once by every Muslim who is physically and financially able to do so. “A total of 30,599 Pakistani pilgrims are currently staying in different hotels in Madinah,” the religious affairs ministry said. “The Madinah airport team is engaged in arranging the smooth return of pilgrims to their homeland,” it added. “The flight operation from Jeddah to Pakistan will be completed today, June 16.”
The ministry said facilitation, complaints, guidance, call center, monitoring and Riyad Al-Jannah teams remained active in Madinah to assist pilgrims during their stay.
It added that food inspection teams had visited various hotels to review meal quality and meet pilgrims, while contractors continued providing freshly prepared meals three times a day in accordance with hygiene standards.
Pakistan launched its post-Hajj flight operation after the annual pilgrimage concluded last month.