Pakistan will begin its 33-day Hajj flight operation on Tuesday, with six flights scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia on the first day, state media reported on Monday.
This year, nearly 89,000 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj under the government scheme, while an additional 23,620 will travel through private tour operators. The annual pilgrimage is set to take place in June.
“The Hajj flight operation to airlift intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia is commencing [Tuesday],” Radio Pakistan said in its report.
On the opening day, two flights will depart from Lahore and one each from Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, and Multan. The final flight under the government scheme will leave on May 31. Pilgrims travelling under the government scheme will be transported through a total of 342 flights.
Approximately 50,500 Pakistani pilgrims will benefit from Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route Initiative, which streamlines immigration procedures by allowing travellers to complete their clearance at home airports before departing. The initiative, launched in 2019, is currently operational in Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, and Bangladesh.
Under the Makkah Route Initiative, 28,000 pilgrims will depart from Islamabad, and 22,500 from Karachi. While final global figures are yet to be confirmed, projections suggest that Hajj 2025 could see a record attendance of over 2.5 million Muslims gathering for the pilgrimage.
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