ISLAMABAD: The first Hajj flight departed from Islamabad at 1050pm on Monday with 310 pilgrims on board, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia has allowed up to one million people to join the Hajj pilgrimage this year, expanding it to participants from outside the kingdom after two years of tight COVID-19 restrictions.
Pilgrims this year must be under the age of 65 and fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The Pakistani pilgrims who embarked on the spiritual journey from Islamabad benefitted from the Makkah route initiative which allows all immigration requirements to be fulfilled at the airport of origin.
"Arrangements were made for the Prime Minister of Pakistan to grace the occasion," PCAA said about the inaugural flight. "However, at 4.30 pm it was communicated that PM is busy in some other important matters."
The ceremony was thus attended by the minister and secretary of the minitry of religious affairs, the Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, as well as senior foreign office and immigration officials.
"The Minister and ambassador expressed their satisfaction and appreciate the arrangements made at Islamabad airport," the statement said. "The delegation was served with refreshments afterwards."
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.
