Hajj flight operations set for May 9 to June 9
With the annual Hajj pilgrimage season on the horizon, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has unveiled plans to facilitate the departure of pilgrims from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia with flight operations set to span from May 9 to June 9.
During the initial 15 days, all flights are slated to touch down directly at Madinah Airport.
On the first day, a total of 2,160 pilgrims are poised to commence their spiritual journey, availing themselves of 11 designated flights.
From May 24 to June 9, the flights will shift to Jeddah Airport, facilitating onward journeys to the sacred sites.
The commencement day will witness 680 pilgrims departing from Islamabad across three flights, alongside 330 pilgrims from Karachi, distributed among two flights.
An additional 670 pilgrims will kick-start their pilgrimage from Lahore through three scheduled flights.
Similarly, flights from Multan and Sialkot will also take flight on the inaugural day, ensuring a comprehensive departure schedule.
To accommodate pilgrims from diverse regions, the ministry has outlined a phased departure plan. The first Hajj flight from Quetta is scheduled for May 11, with Sukkur to follow suit on May 27.
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The scheduling is aimed at catering to the needs of pilgrims across Pakistan, with over 68,000 expected to embark on the journey through a total of 259 flights, according to the ministry spokesperson.
Emphasising the ministry's commitment to a seamless Hajj experience, the spokesperson underscored that the first flight returning home with pilgrims is slated for June 20.
Road to Makkah
Meanwhile, according to the CAA spokesperson, a meeting was convened at Jinnah International Airport to discuss pre-Hajj arrangements, with a particular focus on the Road to Makkah project.
The gathering included various stakeholders of the airport such as airlines, ground handling agencies, border health services, airport security force, FIA, customs, and anti-narcotics force. Karachi Airport Manager Irfan Khan and Deputy Airport Manager Saifur Rehman spearheaded the meeting.
Discussions centred around the Saudi immigration process in the international departure satellite area, covering the pilgrims' journey from terminal arrival to departure, as well as the procedures throughout their stay.
Irfan Khan stressed the importance of offering seamless services to Hajj pilgrims, urging all agencies to treat them as honoured guests. Similarly, Border Health Services received instructions to be fully prepared to assist the pilgrims, while security personnel were urged to expedite goods screening.
Hajj Director Karachi, Imtiaz Shah, commended the collaborative efforts of CAA and Karachi Airport administration in overseeing the Road to Makkah project.