ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has launched its post-hajj flight operation, with the first group of Pakistani pilgrims returning home from Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
In a month-long operation, pilgrims will be transported from the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Madinah to Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan, Sialkot, and Quetta.
In a statement, the airline said it had officially begun its post-hajj operation, and the first flight – PK742 – arrived in Islamabad from Jeddah carrying 114 passengers. The pilgrims were welcomed at Islamabad Airport by Chief Operating Officer Aftab Gilani and other officials.
PIA stated that the second flight, PK732, was scheduled to depart Jeddah for Lahore, while the first post-hajj flight to Karachi, PK860, is set to arrive from Jeddah on Sunday. The post-Hajj operation will continue up to June 30.
According to PIA, the airline plans to operate a total of 213 flights and transport more than 53,000 pilgrims back to Pakistan.