Pre-Hajj Flight Operation Concludes Successfully

JEDDAH: The 33-day pre-Hajj air transit operation came to a successful close with the arrival of the final Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight, PK-759, from Karachi. The flight, which landed at 6:55 pm (local time) on Saturday, carried 307 pilgrims.

Muhammad Umar Butt, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, stated that under the Government Hajj Scheme, a total of 88,260 pilgrims were transported to Saudi Arabia from various Pakistani cities via 342 flights.

The spokesperson further noted that more than 27,000 pilgrims journeyed to the holy land using private Hajj arrangements.

During the initial phase of the Hajj flight operations, 39,717 Pakistani individuals were flown to Madinah by May 27, utilizing 156 flights.

It was highlighted that over 115,000 Pakistani pilgrims are expected to participate in the Hajj this year, comprising 88,260 under the government program and 27,011 through Private Hajj Organizers (HGOs).

Airlines such as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Saudi Airlines, SereneAir, Airblue, and AirSial were among those operating the flights, facilitating the transportation of pilgrims from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.

The spokesperson mentioned that approximately 470 Nazimeen are being assigned to support the pilgrims during the Mashair days. Each group of 188–200 pilgrims will have a dedicated Nazim available to them 24/7, guiding them from Mina to Arafat, Muzdalifah, Jamarat, and back to Makkah.