ISLAMABAD, On Monday, Pakistan will be the first country in the world to offer direct Hajj flights to Makkah, according to an announcement made by the country's ministry of religious affairs.
The official Hajj program
On May 21, the Pakistani government started sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia as part of the official Hajj programme.
Despite this, Madinah has been the one and only location visited by any of the planes. Many Pakistani believers currently residing in the Kingdom have already begun their journey by bus to Makkah in preparation for the annual Islamic pilgrimage, which is slated to begin on June 26.
Pakistan to Begin Direct Flights to Jeddah for Hajj 2023
After performing the Hajj, pilgrims who are proceeding immediately to Makkah will stay in Madinah for a total of eight days.The first post-Hajj return flights will be operated by Pakistan beginning on July 4th.
In January, Saudi Arabia removed the age restriction of 65 years old and reinstated Pakistan's pre-coronavirus pandemic Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims. Both of these changes took place in Saudi Arabia.
The nation plans to send 80,000 pilgrims overseas this year as part of a program run by the government; the remaining pilgrims will travel through commercial tour organizations.
