ISLAMABAD: The first Hajj flight is scheduled to depart from Pakistan’s federal capital on Monday, reported the state-run Radio Pakistan, as Saudi Arabia has allowed pilgrims from outside the kingdom to participate in the annual Islamic ritual after two years of strict COVID-19 restrictions.
The flight carrying the first batch of pilgrims will be operated under the Makkah Route initiative, allowing all immigration requirements to be fulfilled at the airport of origin. Pakistan will be operating 42 flights under the same mechanism to transport 14,007 pilgrims from the Islamabad airport, confirmed the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) on Friday, where the country implemented a pilot project in 2019.
The Makkah Route initiative also includes other Muslim countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
“First Hajj flight under government scheme will depart from Islamabad tomorrow (Monday),” the Radio Pakistan said.
On Friday, Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor and Saudi Arabia’s ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki visited the Islamabad airport to observe the pre-departure immigration arrangements for Pakistani Hajj pilgrims.
“The minister and the ambassador expressed their satisfaction and appreciated the arrangements made at IIAP [Islamabad International Airport],” the PCAA said in a statement.
“Total Hujjaj [pilgrims] traveling from IIAP through Route to Makkah is 14,007. Total flights operating from IIAP would be 42.”
Of these flights, the Pakistan International Airlines will operate 18, Saudi Airline 18, Airblue four and Serene Air will operate two, according to the PCAA.
Saudi Arabia will let up to one million people join the Hajj pilgrimage this year, expanding it to participants from outside the kingdom after two years of tight COVID-19 restrictions. However, pilgrims this year must be under age 65 and fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Pakistan has been allotted a quota of 81,132 pilgrims for this year’s Hajj, with 32,000 people using a government scheme and 48,000 traveling through private operators.
