ISLAMABAD: More than 3,400 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Madinah via 15 flights during the first two days of the country’s pre-Hajj flight operation, Pakistani state media reported on Friday.

Out of these, seven flights were operated from Islamabad and Karachi under the Makkah Route project, an initiative of the Saudi government to streamline the immigration process for pilgrims.

Currently, only Islamabad and Karachi airports in Pakistan are functioning under the initiative to facilitate pilgrims during the Hajj days.

“Filled with excitement and devotion, the pilgrims, who have been preparing for this moment for years, stepped foot in the Prophet’s (SAW) city, marking the beginning of the Hajj season,” the state-run APP news agency reported.

“Approximately three million pilgrims from around the world, including 179,210 Pakistanis, will converge on the holy cities to perform the sacred Hajj.”

From the airport, the passengers were transported to residential buildings located in Markazia, some 20-minute away from the Prophet’s Mosque.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime, if they are financially and physically able.

Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, according to the Pakistani religious affairs ministry. Of them, 63,805 pilgrims will be performing the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest would be accommodated by private tour operators.

Pakistan began its pre-Hajj flight operation on May 9, which will continue till June 9. This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14 till June 19.