This year, the administration of COVID-19 shots has been made mandatory for the pilgrims intending to perform Hajj.

According to the reports, an estimated 200,000 people from Pakistan will go for the religious obligation this year. They need to be administered the Covid-19 dose before their departure to Saudi Arabia.

Pilgrims going for Hajj from all over the world will be vaccinated against coronavirus in their own countries. Hajj will be performed in the month of July this year.

The process of receiving applications for Hajj scheme at official level in Pakistan will begin this month while the flight operations for the purpose will start late May or early June.

The authorities will set up vaccination centres in major cities of the country to administer shots to the pilgrims The Saudi aviation said the implementation of coronavirus SOPs will be ensured for the well-being of travelling passengers.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Muhammad Saleh Benten said recently that Saudi Arabia has received about 100,000 pilgrims from abroad after the resumption of Umrah service for foreign pilgrims since last Nov. 1 2020.

Addressing a symposium on the Kingdom’s efforts in serving pilgrims and visitors, he said that the ministry is working on operational plans to welcome the month of Ramadan and studying the developments related to the next Hajj season with the concerned authorities.

Benten said that around nine million beneficiaries took advantage of the ministry’s Eatmarna application.

“The Kingdom has worked to implement an integrated strategic plan for Hajj and Umrah with preventive plans and precautionary measures to allow the performance of Umrah in limited numbers in several precise phases.