Over 115,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims to return via 450 flights

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched its post-Hajj flight operations to bring home nearly 119,000 pilgrims who performed Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year, with more than 450 flights scheduled from various Saudi cities throughout June.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, the first return flight, PIA flight PK964, is scheduled to depart Jeddah for Sialkot at 10:20 pm on Monday.

On the first day of the operation, June 10, a total of 21 flights will transport 5,628 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan. Of these, five flights will arrive in Islamabad while four each are scheduled to land in Lahore and Karachi.

The ministry said the month-long operation will continue until June 30, with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Saudi Airlines, Air Sial, and Airblue participating in the repatriation effort.

In a separate statement, PIA said it will operate 213 flights to transport around 56,000 pilgrims back to Pakistan. The airline’s flights will arrive in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan, Sialkot, and Quetta.

According to official figures, approximately 197,000 Pakistanis performed Hajj this year. Pakistan’s pre-Hajj flight operation began on April 18, facilitating the travel of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.