Hajj 2018: Saudi Arabia Begins to Receive Pilgrims
Saudi officials receive the first batch of Hajj pilgrims in Jeddah
Jeddah: The Hajj 2018 season has begun, with the first flights arriving from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Malaysia on Saturday.
King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz International Airport, Madinah, are witnessing the start of pilgrimage flights, in which all public and private sectors operating at the airport completed preparations for serving pilgrims from all over the world.
Pakistan has started operating Hajj flights and the first Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-7001, carrying 171 pilgrims from Karachi, landed in Madinah early on Saturday morning.
On the second flight, 186 Pakistani pilgrims reached the King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah from Islamabad through PK- 741 and were welcomed by Pakistani consulate officers. Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj Abdullah Al-Fataah and other Saudi officials were also present.
"We have made excellent accommodation, food and transportation arrangements for all the pilgrims with the cooperation of the Saudi government," Imran Siddiqui, spokesperson for the Pakistani Ministry of Religious Affairs, told Arab News.
He said 184,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj this year, while flight operations will continue till August 15.
Siddiqui said the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad remained open, even on weekends, to process visas and other official requirements for people intending to perform Hajj.
The Jeddah airport also received the first flight carrying 419 pilgrims from Bangladesh.
Pilgrims were offered dates and prayer mats by the Saudi authorities.
The passengers were received by Vice President of the General Authority for Civil Aviation Sulaiman bin Hamad Al-Bassam, Director General of King Abdul Aziz International Airport Essam Fouad, and a number of government and airport officials.
The Madinah airport also received the first flight carrying pilgrims from Malaysia.
The first Hajj flight from Kabul also arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, carrying 345 Afghan pilgrims.
Hajj flights have started from Kabul and Herat and more would follow from Kandahar and Balkh airports, confirmed Faiz Mohammad Osmani, Minister for Hajj and Religious Endowments, on Saturday.
An estimated 30,000 Afghans will perform Hajj this year, out of whom the government will sponsor 500,mainly family members of those who fell victim to the country's ongoing war.
The operational plan for the Hajj season this year included preparations for receiving pilgrims and the training of governmental bodies at the airport for undertaking their duties swiftly.
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