ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities will send 3,510 more pilgrims to Madinah on Tuesday via 13 flights, state-run media reported as the country accelerates its pre-Hajj flight operation.
Pakistan’s pre-Hajj flight operation, launched on Saturday, is expected to continue uninterrupted till May 21. A spokesperson of the Pakistani religious affairs ministry has said that so far, 5,250 Hajj pilgrims under the government scheme have reached Madinah via 21 flights.
“The spokesperson added that on Tuesday, an additional 3,510 Hajj pilgrims will be sent off via 13 more Hajj flights,” state broadcaster PTV said in a report. “These flights will include 4 departing from Islamabad, while 2 each from Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Quetta, and in addition, one Hajj flight will take off from Sialkot.”
The report said that national and private airlines are participating in the Hajj operation. These include the Pakistan International Airlines, Saudi Air, Airblue and AirSial.
PTV said that for Hajj pilgrims’ convenience, training, completion of travel documents and provision of vaccinations are ongoing at 10 Hajj camps across the country.
“Furthermore, Ministry of Religious Affairs staff are deployed 24 hours a day at Pakistani and Saudi airports to guide pilgrims, ensuring avoidance of any kind of difficulty,” the report said.
Pakistan is expected to send a total of 179,210 pilgrims this year, with 119,210 traveling under the government scheme and around 60,000 through private operators.
The Makkah Route Initiative--which enables pilgrims to complete immigration formalities before departure— has been extended to Lahore for the first time this year, in addition to Islamabad and Karachi cities.
