PESHAWAR   -   First Hajj flight left for Saudi Arabia carrying 269 pilgrims from Bacha Khan International Airport here Friday.

The State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan saw off the pilgrims at the airport. Director Hajj Shakeel Ahmed Shethi and Airport Manager Obaidur Rehman Abbassi were present on the occasion. Addressing the pilgrims, State Minister said Saudi authorities had increased the quota of pilgrims from 184,000 to 200,000 on the request of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said the road to Makkah project from Islamabad International Airport and direct Hajj flights from Quetta Airport were the achievements of federal government.

He said the ambit of project would be increased all over the country in coming year. This year Rs25000 to Rs60,000 would be reimbursed to Hujjaj-e-Karam.

Ali Muhammad Khan said that public and private Hajj schemes were being monitored on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The minister also directed concerned authority to utilise resources for facilitation of pilgrims. He urged the pilgrims to pray for prosperity, progress, development, stability and sovereignty of the country during their special prayers during Hajj.