Hajj flight operations from Pakistan start today as the 11 flights from five major cities will land in Madinah on Thursday. Passengers from Karachi will utilize the Road to Makkah project for the first time.
2160 pilgrims from Pakistan will reach Madinah today. Pakistani officials last month confirmed Saudi Arabia’s decision to expand the Road to Makkah initiative to Karachi, which was previously functional in Islamabad only.
“These flights will transport pilgrims from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Peshawar to the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Madinah Airport), beginning a massive influx of devotees from Pakistan and other parts of the world,” state news agency APP said, adding that the first 11 flights would take 2,160 Hajj pilgrims to Madinah.
This initiative streamlines customs and immigration services for pilgrims at their point of departure, alleviating the need for these procedures upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said al-Malki would visit Islamabad and Karachi as both the airports are being run under the Road to Makkah Project.
Five Pakistani airlines- AirBlue, Air Sial, Pakistan International Airlines, Saudi Airline, and Serene Air will transport 68,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from eight major cities in Pakistan- Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, Sialkot, Sukkur, and Quetta. Pilgrims from Pakistan will land in Jeddah or Madinah.
The first flight from Pakistan PF 754 (Air Sial) departed for Madinah at 1.45 AM on Thursday carrying 150 Hajj pilgrims. The last Hajj Airline SV 3727 Saudi Airlines will depart on June 10 carrying 380 pilgrims from Pakistan.
During the first 15 days of Hajj flight operations, pilgrims will land in Madinah. After May 23rd, pilgrims will be taken to King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.
This year, 179, 210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj. A month-long Hajj flight operations will commence on May 9th, 2024 from Pakistan.
