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'Haj operation progressing smoothly'

ISLAMABAD: Haj operation has been progressing quite satisfactorily according to the arrangements made for their airlifting from the eight designated stations to the holy land and accommodation there.

A spokesman of the Religious Affairs Ministry said that all the intending pilgrims who reached the holy land so far have been safely settled in Makkah Mukkarama without any inconvenience.

He dispelled the impression that the intending pilgrims had to face accommodation problems on arrival and added that no explanation has been sought from any officials of the Haj Directorate.

Meanwhile, the intending pilgrims have been asked not to carry unnecessary lugage with them specially eatables besides items like tooth-paste, etc. The pilgrims have been specifically advised to avoid keeping even medicines containing narcotic ingredients because of strict rules in Saudi Arabia.

Director of Rawalpindi Haji Camp Syed Farogh Zaidi told APP that so far over 5,000 intending pilgrims have departed for holy land from this centre after fulfilling necessary formalities.

He said that during two-day stay in the Haji Camp the pilgrims are provided identification locket, a bracelet bearing passport number, Haj passport and ticket besides foreign exchange and vaccination.

He added that for convenience of the intending pilgrims two separate countries for customs and briefings have been established at the Haji Camp.

Farogh Zaidi said that Religious Affairs Minister Dr. Abdul Malik Kasi visited the Haji Camp on Friday night to see for himself the arrangements made for the pilgrims. He said the minister expressed his satisfaction over the facilities being offered to the intending pilgrims at the Haji camp. APP