ISLAMABAD: At least 1,357 pilgrims have arrived in Madinah as Pakistan launched pre-Hajj flight operations from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities this week, the religious affairs ministry said on Sunday.
Pakistan’s inaugural Hajj flight, PF-7700 by AirSial, departed from Karachi to Madinah on Saturday with 160 pilgrims. Other flights from Lahore, Sialkot and Islamabad also departed for the Kingdom late Saturday and Sunday morning.
The pilgrims arrived at Madinah’s Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport and were received there by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farooq, Consul General Syed Mustafa Rabbani and Pakistan’s Director-General Hajj Abdul Wahab Soomro.
“All arriving pilgrims were transported to the Markaziyah area of Madinah, the district immediately surrounding Masjid Al-Nabawi , where the Pakistan Hajj mission has secured housing for the full 119,210 pilgrims traveling under this year’s government scheme,” the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement.
Officials said rooms had been pre-allocated for pilgrims, allowing them to check in without significant delays. The ministry said that Nusuk cards, required by pilgrims for access to religious sites and the performance of religious rituals, were issued to pilgrims upon arrival at their accommodation.
“Further flights carrying Pakistani pilgrims are scheduled to arrive in the coming days,” the religious affairs ministry said. “The pre-Hajj operation is expected to continue until the main Hajj period begins.”
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage. Of these, around 118,000 seats have been allocated to the government scheme and the rest to private tour operators.
The ministry has urged pilgrims to use the “Pak Hajj 2026” mobile app to access information about their flights, departure timings and airports.
