First Hajj flight with 328 pilgrims leaves for Saudi Arabia

On Thursday morning, the first flight of the national carrier left the federal capital for Saudi Arabia with 328 pilgrims onboard.

Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flight PK-2503 departed for Madina at around 4.25 am today.

Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, was also present at the airport to say good-bye to the pilgrims.

The minister claimed reasonable arrangements have been made to provide best possible facilities to pilgrims this year.

“The federal government is trying everything, even beyond its limits, to facilitate pilgrims,” said Yousuf.

In all, at least 868 blessed pilgrims from Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore departed on different flights on Thursday to perform Hajj this year

Another private airline flight left Karachi, taking at least 320 pilgrims, left for Madina during the wee hours of Thursday.

From Lahore, another plane of a private airline took 220 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia today.

This year PIA would operate flights from ten cities of Pakistan including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sukkur, Multan and Rahim Yar Khan.