The post-Hajj flight operation for the return of thousands of pilgrims under the government’s Hajj scheme commenced on Sunday.
A total of four flights are departing from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the first day, bringing pilgrims to Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.
According to Radio Pakistan, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airblue, Serene Air and Saudi Airlines will be facilitating the return of Pakistani Hajjaj under the scheme.
Meanwhile, around 329 pilgrims traveling via PIA reached Lahore earlier in the day, Express News reported. PIA staffers were at the airport to welcome the pilgrims.
The state airline is to bring over 900 passengers from Jeddah to Pakistan on the first day of operations, with flights slated to land in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar.
Some 61,467 pilgrims are scheduled to fly back to the country over 268 PIA flights, which will include 41,000 Hajjaj who went under the government scheme, 19,000 Hajjaj, who completed the pilgrimage privately and 600 khuddam.
These post-Hajj flights are scheduled to depart from Madinah and Jeddah and are due to land in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Peshawar.
PIA will be engaged in post-Hajj operations till August 2 with the airline claiming to ensure that departures and arrivals are 90% on schedule.
To facilitate Pakistani pilgrims, the airline has designated teams on the ground at the Jeddah and Madinah airports, according to a press release.
