ISLAMABAD: Religious Affairs Ministry on Saturday said that around 8,500 Pakistani pilgrims were flown to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, since the start of a pre-Hajj flight operation.
The first Hajj flight carrying Pakistani pilgrims departed from Islamabad on June 6. “More than 1,500 pilgrims will be flown to Madinah by 5 Hajj flights on Saturday,” it added.
The first Hajj flight carrying Pakistani pilgrims departed from Islamabad on June 6. Pakistan will operate 42 flights to transport 14,007 Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia under the “Road to Makkah” initiative this year.
Pakistan has been allotted a quota of 81,132 pilgrims for this year’s Hajj, with 32,000 people using a government scheme and 48,000 traveling through private operators.
Hajj pilgrims are also being informed about the flights through the website and SMS on their mobile numbers, said the spokesperson.
Saudi Arabia has allowed up to one million people to join the Hajj pilgrimage this year, inviting pilgrims from foreign countries for the first time after two years of COVID-19 restrictions saw the annual pilgrimage limited to residents of the kingdom.
The religious ministry has urged all Hajj pilgrims not to enter the premises of Riaz-ul-Jannah without prior permission from Saudi authorities.
