ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national airline announced on Friday it has completed its first phase of the pre-Hajj flight operation to the kingdom, transporting a total of 61,467 pilgrims to Ƶ for the annual spiritual pilgrimage.
Pakistan started the pre-Hajj flight operation to Ƶ from different cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad, on May 21. According to Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) 26,000 Hajj pilgrims traveled this year through the Makkah Route Initiative, which allows pilgrims to fulfill all visa, customs, and health requirements at the airport of origin, saving long hours of waiting.
The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage obligatory on every Muslim adult who is of sound mind and possesses the financial means to undertake the spiritual journey to Muslim holy sites in Ƶ during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah.
“The pre-Hajj operation was completed last night with the Karachi to Jeddah PIA flight,” the airline said in a statement. “A total of 61,467 Hajj pilgrims reached the holy land of Hijaz via 268 flights.”
The PIA said it transported 41,000 Hajj pilgrims under the government scheme and 19,000 pilgrims who went with private tour operators.
“PIA’s pre-Hajj operation kicked off on May 21 and concluded on June 22. Direct flights were operated from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, Peshawar, Sialkot, and Faisalabad,” the PIA said, adding that pilgrims from Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Quetta cities traveled to Jeddah via flights from Karachi.
The national airline said that out of 268 flights, 249 departed for their destinations on time or before the scheduled departure time.
It added that the PIA’s post-Hajj flight operation will commence on July 2 and will carry on till August 2.
This year, Ƶ has relaxed coronavirus restrictions by restoring Pakistan’s pre-pandemic Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims. The kingdom has also scrapped the upper age limit of 65 years to perform the Hajj.
