Over 2,700 pilgrims complete training in Pakistan's southwest to undertake Hajj journey
QUETTA: More than 2,700 Pakistani pilgrims in the southwestern city of Quetta have completed training to undertake the annual pilgrimage that is expected in June, with officials voicing on Thursday their satisfaction over the arrangements made by Saudi authorities.
Nearly 89,000 Pakistani pilgrims are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme and another 23,620 Pakistanis will perform the pilgrimage through private tour operators. The total quota granted to Pakistan was 179,210, which could not be met.
Each pilgrim in Pakistan's Balochistan province has attended two training sessions at Hajji Camp in Quetta, where they have also been facilitated with passports, visas and tickets for their travel to Saudi Arabia.
'Everything is running smoothly here because our instructors and the staff are fully cooperating with the pilgrims,' said Muhammad Jan, a 62-year-old resident of Balochistan's Naseerabad district who will be performing Hajj under the government scheme for the first time.
Jan, who completed his two training sessions in February and April, was visiting Hajji Camp in Quetta to collect his travel documents.
'There are hundreds of thousands of people [at Hajj each year], so if there are some minor shortcomings, then I think [it's not a big deal],' he told Arab News.
'But from what we have heard, their [Saudi government] management is very good, they are facilitating [pilgrims] very well.'
This year, only 2,779 pilgrims from 34 districts across Pakistan's sparsely populated Balochistan province will travel to Saudi Arabia.
'We have thoroughly guided our Hajj pilgrims about traveling guidelines, Hajj rules set by the Saudi government and the Hajj rituals,' a senior official at the Hajji Camp, who was not authorized to speak to media, told Arab News.
'We are satisfied with the Hajj arrangements by the Saudi government and there is a colossal coordination between the Pakistan and Saudi governments regarding the Hajj pilgrimage.'
Abdul Hadi, who also came to collect his documents from the Pishin district, urged authorities to expedite the process as some pilgrims had to wait 'for hours.'
'They should have set up all documents with numbers so the pilgrims could get their documents in sequence by standing in queues. Now we have to wait for our names, that is a time-consuming procedure,' the 65-year-old said.
'When [Pakistani] pilgrims go to Saudi Arabia, they must keep in view our country's reputation and protect it. They must not do anything there that may disgrace our country.'
Faizullah Abid, a volunteer at Hajji Camp, said they had regularly been handing over passports, visas and tickets to pilgrims.
'If any pilgrim does not wish to go back home [before departure for Hajj], then they are being provided accommodation and food here, then the Ministry of Religious Affairs will transport them to airport in their vehicles,' he added.
Pakistan launched its Hajj flight operation on April 29 which will continue till May 31. Pilgrims will continue to leave for Madinah during the first 15 days of the operation and afterwards, they will land in Jeddah and travel directly to Makkah.
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