ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: Haj flights to airlift intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia has begun.

The prime minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, bade farewell to 433 pilgrims on the first PIA flight, which left Islamabad early Monday morning.

Addressing the pilgrims, the prime minister said as they were going to the House of Allah Almighty and to Roza-i-Rasool, they should pray for the sovereignty, integrity and prosperity of the motherland.

He said they must follow the laws of the host country and prove themselves the good ambassadors of Pakistan. The premier said he had directed the Pakistani ambassador and director-general Haj in Saudi Arabia to extend all possible assistance to the pilgrims.

He said he had come to know about some difficulties faced by the pilgrims and would look into them and efforts would be made to redress them.

Earlier, the secretary, ministry of religious affairs, Jameel Ahmed Bhutto, said 125,000 Pakistanis would be going to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj this year, which is 8,500 more than last year.

These pilgrims would be airlifted through 310 PIA and 40 Saudi Airlines flights by the 6th of next month. Hujjaj-e-Karam would be allowed by PIA 35 kgs of luggage free of charge in addition to provision of Ahram and Aba free of cost and provision of 10 litres of Aab-i-Zam Zam on return.

The secretary said Rs420 million would be refunded to the pilgrims on return due to appreciation of rupee.—PPI