By Raziq Ali Shah
MADINAH AL MUNAWWARAH, Jun 12 (APP): Emotions ran high in the departure lounge of Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport on Thursday, as the maiden flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) PK-7030 departed for Lahore at 3:30 pm (local time), carrying 303 Pakistani Hujjaj after completing their sacred Hajj pilgrimage.
The atmosphere was poignant, filled with tears, prayers, and heartfelt expressions of gratitude to Almighty Allah.
Sharing details, Director of the Pakistan Hajj Mission in Madinah, Zia-ur-Rehman told APP here that a total of 48,747 Hujjaj will be transported back to Pakistan via 154 flights, destined for various cities across the country.
He said that the first flight, PK-7030, carrying 303 pilgrims, is scheduled to land at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore at 22:50 pm (local time). The final flight, PK-7094, carrying 442 pilgrims, will depart Madinah for Islamabad at 12:30 pm (local time) on July 10.
This year, over 115,000 Pakistanis performed Hajj under both the government and private schemes, Zia-ur-Rehman said. Of these, more than 88,000 performed Hajj under the government scheme, while over 17,000 pilgrims went through private arrangements.
In response to a question, Zia-ur-Rehman highlighted that 100 percent of the pilgrims were accommodated in three- and five-star hotels in the Markaziyyah area, located just a 5 to 10-minute walk from Masjid al-Nabawi (SAWW).
He said that Moavineen (Hajj supporting staff) is fully supporting pilgrims with online registrations for access to Riazul Jannah, and provided proper guidance within Masjid al-Nabavi (SAWW). The pilgrims are also taken in groups to Riazul Jannah to offer Nawafil prayers, he said.