Haj flight operation to start from May 9

ISLAMABAD: More than 68,000 intending pilgrims under government’s regular Haj scheme, would be flown to Saudi Arabia in 259 flights of different airlines in a month-long pre-Haj flights operation starting on May 9.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs spokesman on Friday said that during first 15 days of Haj flights operation, the intending pilgrims would be taken to Madina where after spending eight days, they would reach Makkah.

From May 24 to June 9, most of flights would arrive at Jeddah while the post-Haj flight operation from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan would start from June 20.

The spokesman said that on the first day, 11 flights carrying 2,160 intending pilgrims would depart for Madina from Pakistan’s airports.

As many as 680 pilgrims in three flights from Islamabad would be taken to Madina, two flights with 330 pilgrims from Karachi, three flights with 670 pilgrims from Lahore, two flights with 329 pilgrims and one flight with 151 pilgrims would leave for Madina on the first day. The first Haj flights from Quetta and Sukkur are scheduled on 11th and 27th of May.