Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has shared the pre-Hajj flight operations plan for 2025. PIA will operate 280 special flights between April 29 and June 1 to transport 56,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Of these pilgrims, 20,000 are set to travel under the government’s Hajj scheme, while 36,000 will go through the private scheme, according to reports.
All passengers will be flown by PIA Boeing 777 and Airbus 320 aircraft to ensure comfort and efficiency throughout the journey.
Post-Hajj operations will begin on June 12 and conclude by July 10. A structured flight plan will help bring pilgrims back to Pakistan.
Whereas, as per the official numbers, 179,210 Pakistanis are set to perform Hajj this year. The Hajj quota is divided equally, with 89,605 seats allocated to both the government and private Hajj schemes.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore on Sunday, Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf announced that about 90,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj under the government scheme this year.
The minister said that representatives of the Ministry of Religious Affairs will be present at the airports across the country to assist the pilgrims during their departure.
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He emphasized that special focus is being given to the training of pilgrims, to enable them to avoid difficulties in Saudi Arabia. “The Saudi minister of Hajj assured me that excellent arrangements have been made for this year’s Hajj,” he said.
The minister informed that the first phase of the training has been completed and the second phase of the training camp will start from April 8th. He asserted that Hajj and Umrah are matters of faith. Any work done in this regard is considered an act of faith.
Pakistani Umrah visa holders can travel to Saudi Arabia only until April 13 and must return by April 29. The countries affected by the ban include India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Yemen.