960423

105,000 Pakistanis

to perform Haj

MECCA: Pakistani pilgrims have reached the holy land to perform haj, said Director haj (Pakistan) . Ahmed Baksh Lehri.

Talking to APP here on Tuesday he said that, till April 22, 37 Hujjaj including 12 women, had died natural deaths and old age.

Lehri said that so far no Pakistani pilgrim was suffering from any epidemic disease and all Pakistan hujjaj were enjoying sound health.

He said, those pilgrims who had died in Makkah have been buried in 'Janat-ul-Mullah and those in Mecca have been buried in 'Janaat-ul-Baqqi'.

He said, 278 PIA and other flights have airlifted 105000 Hujjaj to Jeddah.

Talking about the accommodation facility to the pilgrims he said that the Government of Pakistan and Haj Ministry have hired 474 buildings to accommodate Pakistani pilgrims.

"The buildings are at a distance of 1000 metres from the Haram Sharif", he said.

Lehri said that 85,000 pilgrims had been provided will comfortable accommodatiou while rest of 20,000 had made their own accommodation arrangements.

He said to provide medical cover and checkup facility to Pakistani pilgrims a hospital in Pakistan House Mecca was already working and six dispensaries have been set up at various areas in Mecca. He said three dispensaries were working in Madina and one was working at Jeddah Airport.

He said to meet the transport needs of Pakistani pilgrims, the Directorate of Haj had made agreement with Transport Syndicate of Saudi Arabi Arabia.-APP