First batch of Haj pilgrims arrive

Saudi Deputy Minister Haj Abdullah Al-Fataah, Chairman Moassassa Dr. Raaf-iBadar, Chairman Maktabul Wukala, Dr. Farooq Bukhari, DG Haj Marwan Sulemani and other Saudi officials were also present on this occasion.

On this occasion, pilgrims were offered Zamzam water, dates and prayer mats by the Saudi authorities. In total 1,84,210 Pakistanis will come to Saudi Arabia for Haj-2018 in more than 450 flights. Pakistan's

A total of 6,072 Haj flights will be operated, of which 3,383 will be through the Jeddah airport and 2,689 through the Madinah airport.

All pilgrims from Malaysia and a section of pilgrims from Indonesia will have their immigration pre-clearance facility from their embarkation points for this year’s Haj. The Proof of Concept (POC) System for pre-clearance at the point of departure to Saudi Arabia is being implemented in coordination with the Saudi, Malaysian and Indonesian authorities.

The uniform electronic path service dubbed ‘Makkah Road Service’ will be launched from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta.

Speaking to Saudi Gazette prior to the arrival of the pilgrims, Sheikh the first Haj flight from India to Jeddah will be on July 29 and there will be 420 pilgrims on board the Air India flight from Chennai.

He said that a total of 234 flights will be operated to transport 67,302 pilgrims to Madinah and 209 flights to Jeddah to carry 61,400 pilgrims. He said that the Indian Haj Mission has linked all its hospitals and branch dispensaries in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah as well as at the Jeddah airport Haj terminal with an online software system for the first time.

Sheikh noted that a total of 1,300 women pilgrims are coming for Haj without a mahram (male blood relative) for this year’s Haj for the first time. Anticipating high temperature during Haj, the Indian Mission has made arrangements to supply tri-colored umbrellas with “India” written on both sides to every pilgrim, he added.