Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, has said that the Hajj flight operations under the government scheme are expected to start from April 29. He gave this update during a press conference held at the Haji Camp in Lahore.
This year, around 90,000 Pakistanis will perform Hajj under the official government scheme. The minister also mentioned that he had a meeting with his Saudi counterpart to make sure that all necessary facilities are provided to Pakistani pilgrims. He said that preparations are going smoothly, including vaccination and training arrangements.
Hajj training sessions will begin on April 8. During these sessions, pilgrims will be guided on health precautions and vaccination requirements.
The cost of the Hajj package this year is set at 1,150,000 rupees for short-term pilgrims and 1,050,000 rupees for long-term pilgrims.
The minister also addressed concerns about misconduct during the pilgrimage. He said that strict action has been taken against those who were deported for begging. He further explained that Umrah visas are usually paused before the Hajj season to help manage the operations smoothly.
