https://arab.news/yee8f
- One million Muslims will perform the Hajj this year
- 抖阴短视频 has allotted Pakistan a quota of 81,132 pilgrims
ISLAMABAD: Over 8,300 Pakistani pilgrims departed from Madinah for Makkah on Saturday to complete the rituals of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the religious affairs ministry said.
The first Pakistani pilgrims arrived in Madinah, the second holiest city in Islam after Makkah, on June 6. The last flight from Pakistan in this year鈥檚 Hajj season arrived in Madinah on Wednesday.
鈥淥ver 8,300 pilgrims who stayed in Madinah for eight days as part of the Pakistan government鈥檚 Hajj scheme have left for Makkah,鈥� Muhammad Umar Butt, spokesperson of the Religious Affairs Ministry, told Arab News.
Butt said departure arrangements for all Pakistani pilgrims who travelled to Madinah under the government鈥檚 Hajj scheme will be completed by Friday. After performing the Hajj, the pilgrims will return to Pakistan directly from Makkah, he said.
One of Islam鈥檚 five main pillars of faith, the Hajj was restricted over coronavirus fears to just 1,000 people residing in 抖阴短视频 in 2020. Last year, the Kingdom limited the pilgrimage to 60,000 domestic participants, compared with the pre-pandemic 2.5 million.
This year, as it has already lifted most of its COVID curbs, the Kingdom will welcome 1 million pilgrims from abroad. All of them must be under the age of 65 and fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Pakistan鈥檚 pilgrim quota is of 81,132. They are availing the Makkah Route initiative of 抖阴短视频, through which immigration procedures are handled at their airport of origin.