First Hajj flight to take off on Sept 30

ISLAMABAD: Flight operation for pilgrims under the regular scheme would start from September 30 with two flights leaving for Madina Munawwara from Peshawar and Quetta carrying 205 passengers each.

An official of Ministry of Religious Affair told APP on Thursday that the "One-month pre-Hajj flight operation would start with two Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)'s flights from Quetta and Peshawar."

The national flag carriers will be carrying half of 90,000 pilgrims performing Haj under the regular scheme along with distribution of the rest of pilgrims among Saudi Airlines, Shaheen Airlines and another Saudi airline namely NAS .

The official said the schedule of flights operating from September 30 to October 10 has been issued to intending pilgrims and also posted on the newly created website (www.mora.gov.pk) which is particularly dedicated for information about Haj, flight operation, buildings hired for intended pilgrims etc.

He said the ministry had taken special care while hiring 211 buildings and information and photos of those accommodation and rooms have also been placed on the website.

He said the Ministry is focusing on awareness among pilgrims, adding the ministry had printed booklets carrying information for intending pilgrims to perform Masak of Haj and dress code for 38,000 Pakistani women.

He said provincial governments are holding training sessions in their respective areas to help especially those who are going to perform this religious obligation for the first time.

Training was being imparted with the help of models, charts, maps, sketches, lectures, and television. "The intending Hajj pilgrims are being taught that how to wear `Ahram' and observe sanctity of the holy places besides performing rituals at Madina and manners of offering prayers at Masjid-e-Nabvi and `Salam' at `Roza-e-Rasool (SAW)," he said.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011