First Hajj flight from Pakistan to depart on April 18

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The schedule for this year’s Hajj flights has been finalised, bringing good news for intending pilgrims across Pakistan.

According to sources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the first Hajj flight from Pakistan will depart on April 18.

A total of 468 flights will transport pilgrims to Saudi Arabia under the government Hajj scheme.

On the opening day, flights will depart from Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot and Multan. Pilgrims will be informed of their respective flight details next week.

Under the official scheme, 119,000 pilgrims will travel from Pakistan to the holy cities. Of them, 67,230 are men and 51,846 are women.

Officials said that on the first day of the operation, four flights will carry pilgrims to Medina.

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Hajj flights to Jeddah will begin from May 4, while the last Hajj flight from Pakistan is scheduled to depart on May 21.

The pre-Hajj flight operation will continue for 34 days.

During the first 15 days, pilgrims will be flown to Medina, with 186 flights designated for Medina and 282 for Jeddah.

Flights will operate from eight Pakistani cities.

Islamabad will see 129 flights, Karachi 124 and Lahore 104.

Quetta will have 18 flights, Multan 34 and Sialkot 26, while Faisalabad and Sukkur will operate 23 and five flights respectively.