JEDDAH — About 62,000 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom, Ch Mohammed Azam, Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs, said here, Monday. Addressing a press conference at a local restaurant, Azam said of the 61,987 pilgrims arriving thus far, 27,609 have come under the government-sponsored scheme, while 34,376 pilgrims have come privately. He said a total of 180,000 Pakistanis would be performing Haj this year. Syed Abu Akif, Director General Haj, was also present during the press conference. Azam visited the buildings where pilgrims from Pakistan have been lodged and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made for them. The Haj Mission, he said, has set up a hospital which is functioning day and night and doctors have so far treated 4,029 pilgrims. Six pilgrims have so far died and have been buried in the Kingdom, he said. Azam thanked King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Crown Prince Salman, and the Saudi government for the excellent arrangements made for the pilgrims. Azam also met senior Saudi officials to ensure that Pakistani pilgrims are properly looked after during their stay in Saudi Arabia. The official said he would contact Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) authorities to ensure that departing Pakistani pilgrims do not face any difficulty. He said the Pakistan Haj Mission was in constant touch with PIA operational team in Makkah and Madinah.
