MAKKAH: In a tragic news, at least 18 Pakistani pilgrims have died during Hajj in Saudi Arabia, according to media reports.
Among the pilgrim eight women were also died due to different reasons in Hajj this year. The majority of those who died during Hajj are elderly people, according sources from the Ministry of Religious Affairs,
Sources say that the Pakistani pilgrims died of heart attacks and other illnesses. All the deceased were buried in Jannatul Baqi.
Last year, 35 Pakistani pilgrims died during Hajj.
Earlier, officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs confirmed that Pakistan will begin its post-Hajj repatriation operation tomorrow, June 10, with the first flight carrying returning pilgrims departing from Jeddah at 11:50 PM.
The inaugural flight will arrive in Islamabad at 3:00 AM on June 11, bringing back 307 pilgrims who had performed the short-term Hajj.
As part of the initial phase, eight flights will land in Islamabad, Lahore, Multan and Karachi on June 11. The month-long operation will continue till July 10, with the aim of bringing back a total of 88,390 pilgrims under the government’s Hajj scheme.
