Jeddah - Arab Today
The chief of Haj forces at the Passport Department, Brig. Daifallah bin Satam Al-Huwaifi, said that 654,312 pilgrims had left the Kingdom through air, land and sea ports until Sunday.
He said that 592,786 pilgrims left through airports; 54,341 left through via land border posts; and 7,185 pilgrims through seaports.
Al-Huwaifi called on pilgrims to abide by the time of departure without delay. The last day of departure for pilgrims is Muharram 15. He warned that those who delay their departure will be held accountable.
The force commander of Haj passports at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Nayef bin Sultan Al-Ruwais, said that the department has not detected any case of forgery or identity theft so far, pointing to the use of smart devices in the detection of such cases. The use of computer and fingerprint devices with the full range of accessories for each station, in addition to 142 counters in all terminals helped, he said. They also provide a technical working group on an round-the-clock basis to follow up on the work of the systems.
He pointed to the departure of 513,037 pilgrims through the halls of King Abdul Aziz International Airport, until Sundat afternoon, and said that the work is done to the fullest in order to finish serving the departing pilgrims to the sacred House of Allah.
Al-Ruwais added that 142 counters for passport check were equipped and prepared to bid farewell the pilgrims and finish their procedures, and 900 officials and individuals have been assigned to work 24 hours a day at counters, and were distributed to work shifts.
Source: Arab News