LAHORE: The first Hajj flight will leave for Saudi Arabia from Allama Iqbal International Airport here on Thursday, August 4.

Talking to APP here on Monday, Hajj Director Saeed Ahmad Malik said the Hajj Directorate Lahore would start to provide documents to intending pilgrims from Tuesday.

He said that 12,000 people from Lahore are likely to perform Hajj under the government scheme, while more than 15,000 pilgrims will leave for Hajj privately this year.

Saeed Malik said that pilgrims should collect their passports, tickets and other travel documents from the Haji Camp, two days before their departure to Saudi Arabia. They should take with them original Hajj dues receipts with their photograph, bearing date of departure and flight number, the intimation letter issued by Ministry of Religious Affairs, Computerised National Identity Card along with its two copies and six photographs attested by the bank concerned.

The pilgrims would get their passports and tickets after presenting the ministry's intimation letter at counters of Pakistan International Airlines or Saudi Airlines, said Malik.

A card would also be given to them containing their identification details, address in Makkah, group and Maktab numbers that should be kept safely, he said.

"Pilgrims should wear this card during their stay in Saudi Arabia as it will be helpful in case they lose contact with their group," Malik added.

The pilgrims should verify their particulars mentioned on the passport and tickets before leaving the counter. -APP