Hajj 2025: Flight Operations Finalized

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has officially announced the completion of all preparations for the Hajj operation in 2025. The initial flight under the government initiative is slated to depart on April 29, with the final flight scheduled for May 31.

According to a ministry statement released on Saturday, a total of 342 flights will be dedicated to transporting pilgrims from Pakistan, facilitating the journey of 89,000 individuals to Medina and Mecca. The entire Hajj flight operation will span 33 days, with the primary focus on flying pilgrims to Medina during the first 15 days.

On the inaugural day of the operation, six flights are planned to take off for Saudi Arabia. Here’s a breakdown:

  • Two flights will depart from Lahore.
  • One flight each will operate from Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, and Multan.

The first flight, operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), is scheduled to leave Islamabad at 4:45 am, carrying 393 pilgrims. A private airline flight from Lahore, accommodating 150 pilgrims, will depart at 8:30 am. Following that, a PIA flight from Quetta will carry 150 pilgrims, with a departure time of 9:30 am. A PIA flight from Multan is scheduled for 8:15 pm with 393 pilgrims. A private airline flight from Karachi, carrying 285 pilgrims, will depart at 9:30 pm, while another flight from Lahore, carrying 329 pilgrims, will leave at 10:15 pm.

Last week, the ministry declared that 23,620 pilgrims from Pakistan would participate in Hajj in 2025 under the Private Hajj Scheme.

Muhammad Umar Butt, the ministry’s spokesperson, mentioned that the updated list of approved service providers for Hajj 2025 is available on the ministry’s official website and the Pak Hajj mobile application.

He advised all pilgrims who have secured their Hajj arrangements through registered service providers to confirm the status of their applications and contracts via the ministry’s portal. Pilgrims are also encouraged to utilize the Pak Hajj 2025 mobile app for the latest information and updates.

Umar Butt also stated that all approved Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs) and service providers have been directed to issue updated Hajj contracts (Hajj forms) to pilgrims, adhering to the allocated Hajj quota for 2025.

Butt emphasized that the issuance of Hajj visas must be completed by April 18, 2025, following the guidelines set forth by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.