First of the Hajj flights leave for Saudi Arabia

First of the flights took off from Peshawar taking 205 pilgrims.

PESHAWAR: The first Hajj flight carrying pilgrims from Quetta and Peshawar under the government's hajj scheme left for Saudi Arabia on Friday.

PIA revealed that 16,200 pilgrims from Balochistan will be taken through 80 flights during this year's Hajj operations.

The evening flight that took off with 205 pilgrims from Peshawar was seen off by the Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour.

Hajj flights from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi will also be taking off on Saturday.

Pilgrims were be seen off by the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah at the Quetta airport.

PIA along with Shaheen Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Al-Naas have been cleared by the Federal Ministry as the official carriers for pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.