ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has finalised all arrangements for the smooth Hajj operation with the first flight departing for the holy city of Madinah from Islamabad on Tuesday.
A senior official of the ministry in Madinah, Ziaur Rehman, on Monday said that under the government’s Hajj scheme, a total of 89,000 pilgrims will be transported to the holy cities of Madinah and Makkah via 342 flights.
The last Hajj flight from Pakistan is set to depart on May 31.
Rehman highlighted that this is a major annual operation conducted in both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and the religious affairs ministry is working diligently to ensure it proceeds smoothly and without any issues, providing maximum support to the pilgrims.
He said the first flight, PK-713 of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), will depart at 5:00 AM on Tuesday, carrying over 300 pilgrims to Madinah.
During the first 15 days of the flight operation, pilgrims will be flown directly to Madinah. Several airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Serene Air, Airblue, Air Sial, and Saudi Airlines, have been tasked with transporting the pilgrims.
In the initial phase of the pre-Hajj flight operation, six flights are scheduled to arrive in Madinah on Tuesday from five major cities in Pakistan, carrying around 1,700 pilgrims.
These flights will depart from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Quetta, with arrivals at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport (Madinah Airport). This marks the start of a significant influx of devotees from Pakistan and other regions.
Minister urges Hajj pilgrims to uphold national image
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has urged intending pilgrims to uphold the national image during the Hajj journey by strictly following Saudi laws.
He expressed these views in an exclusive interview with Radio Pakistan.
The Minister advised pilgrims to strictly adhere to all rules, regulations and instructions issued by the Saudi authorities as these are designed for the smooth conduct of Hajj.
Congratulating the pilgrims for being chosen for this sacred journey, he pointed out that they also serve as ambassadors of their country. He advised them to remain fully focused on prayers during their stay in the Holy land.
Highlighting the long-standing brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said these are anchored in shared Islamic values.
A forty-five-member Saudi delegation arrived in Pakistan on Sunday to review the arrangements under the Road to Makkah project.
The Makkah Route Project streamlines immigration procedures by allowing Hajj pilgrims to complete official travel formalities at their departure airports.
First launched in Islamabad in 2019, the programme was later expanded to Karachi, benefiting tens of thousands of Pakistani travellers.
This year, the annual pilgrimage is expected to take place in June, with nearly 90,000 Pakistanis set to travel to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme, while an additional 23,620 pilgrims will perform Hajj through private tour operators.
While the exact number of pilgrims for Hajj 2025 is yet to be confirmed, early projections indicate it could be a record-breaking year, with more than 2.5 million pilgrims expected to participate.
