Over One Hundred Fourteen Thousand Pakistanis Reach Saudi Arabia

Islamabad:(Web Desk)  The Ministry of Religious Affairs announced that more than 114,000 Pakistani pilgrims have successfully arrived in Saudi Arabia for Hajj, while the final pre-Hajj flights from Pakistan are scheduled to depart today.

According to the ministry, a total of 3,296 pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia through 12 flights operating from different cities across Pakistan. The last Hajj flight from Lahore, identified as PK-741, is expected to depart at 10:30 p.m. carrying 290 passengers.

Officials stated that by Wednesday night, 114,078 Pakistani pilgrims had already reached Saudi Arabia under the government Hajj scheme. The remaining group of 457 pilgrims currently in Madinah is expected to travel to Makkah today. In addition, 44,146 private Hajj pilgrims are also present in the Kingdom.

The ministry further confirmed that return Hajj flights from Jeddah to Pakistan will begin on May 31 following the completion of pilgrimage rituals.

Heavy Penalty for Performing Hajj Without Permit as Saudi Arabia Fines 19 Violators

Pakistan launched its pre-Hajj flight operation on April 18 to facilitate more than 179,000 pilgrims traveling for Hajj this year. The country received a total Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims, including approximately 119,000 pilgrims under the government scheme and the remaining through private tour operators.

The ministry also revealed that authorities had addressed complaints related to overcharging of Hajj expenses and refunded SAR73,255 to affected pilgrims.

Thousands of Pakistani pilgrims also traveled under the Makkah Route Initiative, which allows travelers to complete immigration and customs procedures in Pakistan before departure, enabling faster entry and direct transfer to accommodations in Makkah and Madinah upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.