Pakistan begins Hajj flight operation from different cities

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has started to operate Hajj flights, and the first flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) carrying 300 pilgrims from Karachi landed in Medina, Saudi Arabia, early on Saturday morning.
The national carrier’s second Hajj flight, from Islamabad with 327 pilgrims on board, also reached Medina early today. Hajj flights are also scheduled from other major cities of the country, including Peshawar, Multan, Sukkur, Lahore and Faisalabad.
“We have made excellent accommodation, food and transportation arrangements for all the pilgrims with the cooperation of the Saudi government,” Imran Siddiqui, spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told Arab News.
He said that a total of 184,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj this year while the flight operation will continue from today (Saturday) till Aug. 15.
According to Hajj policy 2018, a total of 107,000 Pakistanis will perform Hajj under the government Hajj Scheme and 77,210 pilgrims will perform Hajj through private Hajj schemes.
“Our pilgrims have registered no major complaint regarding Hajj arrangements in Saudi Arabia in the past five years,” he said. “We are trying our best to come up to expectations of our Hajjis this year as well.”
Siddiqui said the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad remained open, even in weekends, to process visas and other official requirements for people intending to perform their Hajj.
He said that a total 1,550 pilgrims will depart from major cities of the country on the first and second day of the operation. The return flights will start from Aug. 28, he added.
The spokesperson said the ministry has uploaded all information regarding the pilgrims on its official website to facilitate them. “Pilgrims and their families can check their flight schedule online any time,” he added.
He said the pilgrims are also being provided with special identification lockets and vaccinated as well before their departure to Saudi Arabia.
The PIA will operate around 250 flights to carry more than 60,000 pilgrims, and the remainder will be transported by private airlines.
“We hope to complete the Hajj flight operation smoothly as all necessary arrangements are in place,” Mashood Tajwar, spokesperson for PIA, told Arab News.