LAHORE: A private airliner carrying 220 Hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia reached the eastern city of Lahore Monday morning.

The post-Hajj flight operation began in Pakistan on Saturday when three flights landed in three different cities, including Karachi and Islamabad, while two other airplanes brought back over 400 pilgrims on Sunday as well.

Talking about the number of pilgrims who embarked on their spiritual journey from Lahore and its adjoining areas, Rehan Khokhar, who works with the country’s religious affairs ministry, said: “32,800 pilgrims went to Saudi Arabia from Lahore and Faisalabad while another 18,000 travelled from Multan. So far, 4,000 of them have returned home. They are all happy since they received the best facilities during their stay in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.”

Many pilgrims endorsed his statement.

“It was a wonderful experience,” Muhammad Tariq, a pilgrim, told Arab News. “The arrangements were excellent, food was good and transportation was hassle-free. The Saudi authorities also provided medical facilities to those in need.”

“Allah showered special blessings on us,” said Haji Allah Rakha, another pilgrim. “Our hosts in Saudi Arabia received us with open arms, making our stay more comfortable than we had expected.”

This year, Pakistani pilgrims also received the pre-departure immigration facility under the ‘Road to Makkah’ program. Since the pilgrims had undergone all necessary procedures before boarding their flights, it saved them time upon reaching the Kingdom and could immediately travel to their respective destinations.

A special 51-member delegation from Saudi Arabia had arrived in Islamabad to review the arrangements. The facility benefited about 30,000 people in the first phase at the Islamabad airport. According to Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry, however, the program will also be extended to Karachi and Lahore next year.

Saudi authorities began the ‘Road to Makkah’ facility for Pakistan after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the project upon Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special request while visiting Islamabad in February 2019.