The Minister for Religious Affairs, Ejaz-ul-Haq, said on Friday that the first Haj flight would leave for Jeddah on November 24, and the operation would be completed by December25.
On the occasion of Haj balloting here, he said that PIA would be airlifting 124,500 pilgrims while Saudi Airline would lift 25,500 pilgrims to the holy land. The minister said that this year 16,500 pilgrims would be taken directly to Madina Munawara but their return would be from Jeddah.
The post-Haj operation would be carried out from January 4 to February 3, 2007. He said that 75,000 applicants each would perform Haj under government scheme and through private tour operators.
Twice unsuccessful 7,158 applicants have been exempted from the balloting, and 3500 would perform Haj under the quota reserved for parliamentarians, Governors and Chief Ministers. Quota for labourers is 500, Haj Foundation 150, and UAE sponsored 100, he added.
Earlier, the minister pressed the button to initiate the process for selection of about 63,600, out of about 152,000 applicants, under Government scheme. The result of the draw can be accessed at the Ministry's website www.hajjinfo.org some time on Saturday morning.
The Ministry would also inform the successful applicants through mail before 'Eid-ul-Fitr'. Unsuccessful applicants can contact their banks for refund of their deposit.