Ministry starts dispatching flight schedule to intending pilgrims: minister

Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah said that flight schedule to around 30,000 pilgrims has been dispatched by the ministry on Friday. Chairing a high level meeting here he said the ministry will dispatch flight schedule to 30,000 pilgrims daily and the whole process would be completed till September 20.
Pilgrims from same districts will be accommodated on the same flight; building, Maktub and all details will also be available on ministry's website, he added. He said process to hire accommodations for intending pilgrims has been completed. Khursheed Shah said that Saudi Arabian (SA) government has issued about 90,000 visas to the intending pilgrims. The Minister said, effective system has been devised and during current season intending pilgrims will not face any difficulty.
He said it has been noted that hujjaj face problems on return but effective strategy has been evolved this year to minimise their sufferings. Khursheed Shah said during this year hujjaj will be asked to report directly to Airport. Earlier they have to report in their buildings first and after scrutiny they were required to reach airport four hour earlier to catch the Jeddah bound flight. He said a contingent of 230 Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj would be sent to Saudi Arabia during Hajj 2011 for rendering welfare service to the Pakistani Hujjaj.
Medical Hajj Mission has been increased from 260 to 540, while 230 Khuddam will be drawn from civil armed forces and Pakistan Boy Scouts and other departments, he said. The Minister said Medical Hajj Mission will include 180 doctors and 360 paramedical staff. He said about Rs 20 million around 148 drugs have been purchased. He said during next hajj all medicine will be purchased from multi-national companies. The Minister directed the Private Hajj Operators to speed up the work so intending pilgrims could not face any problems. He said quota of Private Hajj operation will be black listed during next year if any complaints received.