Post-Hajj operation begins as pilgrims head back home
The post-Hajj operation commenced on Sunday as the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) embarked on the task of bringing more than 900 pilgrims back to the country on the first day of the campaign.
The initial flight, PK-762, carrying 394 pilgrims, touched down at the Islamabad International Airport earlier in the day. Minister for Religious Affairs Talha Mehmood extended a warm welcome to the pilgrims upon their arrival and personally distributed gifts to them.
He remained at the airport until all the pilgrims had safely departed to their respective homes.
In a similar fashion, PK-760 transported 392 pilgrims to Lahore, where they were greeted by PIA Station Manager Ali Abbas Shah and Hajj Manager Mian Sohail Mehmood.
Further, PK-832 brought 361 pilgrims from Jeddah to Karachi, where they were received by Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori.
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The PIA planned to bring back a total of 61,467 pilgrims through 268 flights as part of its post-Hajj operation. These flights will cater to 41,000 pilgrims who had undertaken Hajj under the government scheme and an additional 19,000 pilgrims who had chosen private channels.
Additionally, 600 khuddam will also be repatriated from Madinah and Jeddah through these flights.
The destinations covered by these flights include Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Peshawar.
To ensure punctuality, the national flag carrier is striving to maintain a departure ratio of over 90 per cent for these flights. The PIA made special arrangements at the Hajj Terminal in Jeddah to facilitate the return of pilgrims, and dedicated teams were present at the Jeddah and Madinah airports to provide guidance and support to the returning pilgrims. The post-Hajj operation will continue until August 2.
The PIA, along with Airblue, Serene Air, and Saudi Airlines, will collectively facilitate the return of Pakistani pilgrims who participated in Hajj under the government scheme.
More than 1.8 million people took part in the first unrestricted Hajj since Covid struck in 2020. About 2.5 million, the most on record, joined the pilgrimage in pre-pandemic 2019.