ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan’s Hajj flight operation is set to commence this Saturday, marking the beginning of a large-scale travel arrangement that will see tens of thousands of pilgrims journey to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage.
With just one day remaining before the first departure, preparations have entered their final phase across multiple airports.
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the first Hajj flights will depart on April 18 from Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot and Multan. These initial departures signal the start of a 34-day operation designed to transport pilgrims under the government’s Hajj scheme.
A total of 468 flights have been scheduled to carry 119,000 pilgrims from Pakistan to the holy cities of Madinah and Makkah. The figures highlight the scale of the operation, which is being coordinated across eight major cities. Among those travelling under the official scheme, 67,230 are male pilgrims, while 51,846 are women.
On the first day of the operation, four flights will land in Madinah, where the initial phase of arrivals will continue for the first 15 days. During this period, pilgrims will be flown directly to the Prophet’s city before proceeding to Makkah as per the traditional route followed under the government scheme.
The second phase of the operation will begin on May 4, when flights to Jeddah are scheduled to start. This shift will gradually redirect incoming pilgrims straight to Makkah, streamlining the later stages of arrivals as the pilgrimage dates approach.
Sources indicate that the first long-haul Hajj flight to Madinah is scheduled for May 7, while the final outbound flight from Pakistan will depart on May 21, bringing the outbound operation to a close after more than a month of continuous travel activity.
Out of the total flights, 186 will be directed to Madinah and 282 to Jeddah. The operation is being supported by a combination of national and international carriers, including Pakistan International Airlines, Airblue, Air Sial and Saudi airlines, all working in coordination to ensure smooth transit for pilgrims.
City-wise distribution of flights reflects the geographical spread of pilgrims across the country. Islamabad will handle the highest number of departures with 129 flights, followed by Karachi with 124 and Lahore with 104. Other participating cities include Quetta with 18 flights, Multan with 34, Sialkot with 26, Faisalabad with 23 and Sukkur with five.
The phased scheduling, combined with the involvement of multiple airlines and departure points, underscores the extensive logistical planning behind the Hajj operation. As the first flights prepare for take-off, airports across the country are witnessing increased activity, with pilgrims arriving ahead of their departures for one of the most significant journeys of their lives.