The first Haj flight from Pakistan with 300 pilgrims from Peshawar will arrive at King Abdul Aziz Airport at 12.30 A.M. on Sunday. Pakistani Ambassador Shahid Kareemullah, Consul General Zaighamuddin Azam and other senior officials will be at the airport to welcome the pilgrims. Another flight carrying 300 pilgrims will arrive at Prince Muhammed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madina at 4 A.M the same day. Director General of Haj Shahid Khan and other high officials will receive the pilgrims in Madina. “This year 164,647 Pakistani pilgrims will perform Haj. The number of pilgrims under the government scheme will be 85,000 and those under private scheme 79,647,” said Bahrullah Hazarvi, the Director of Haj at the Pakistani Consulate. “This year no application for a repeat Haj was entertained except in three cases as Mahram of a woman who did not perform Haj earlier, group leader and Haj-e-Badal (substituting for somebody),” he explained. Pakistan International Airlines has made arrangements to transport 20,000 pilgrims directly to Madina. Those arriving in Madina shall depart from Jeddah and vice versa. “PIA will provide Abaya and 10 liters of Zamzam free (on arrival in Pakistan ) and will allow one piece of luggage of 32 kg and one handbag of 7 kg to each pilgrim,” he informed. This year only one category of accommodation is available. It is about 2,000 meters away from the Grand Mosque. Accommodation in Madina has been hired from various groups at SR400 per pilgrim, to be paid on an actual occupancy basis. This is within 770 meters of the Prophet's Mosque. – SG __
