Hajj preparation in final stages: minister

 Hajj Preparations Almost Complete, Says Minister

First Hajj Flight Set for April 29

Federal Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousuf has announced that preparations for this year’s Hajj are nearly finished. He confirmed that the first Hajj flight will take off on April 29.

Speaking to the media, the minister said that all necessary arrangements are being finalized to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for pilgrims. He assured that the government is working hard to make the journey safe, well-organized, and respectful of the religious importance of Hajj.

LAHORE:

The Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, has shared that around 90,000 people will travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year under the government’s Hajj scheme. The first Hajj flights are set to begin on April 29.

According to the Hajj 2025 policy, a total of 179,210 Pakistanis will be performing Hajj this year. The quota is split evenly—89,605 pilgrims will go through the government scheme, while the other half will go through private operators.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore on Sunday, the minister said that preparations for the pilgrimage are nearly complete. He also mentioned that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will kick off its pre-Hajj flight operations on April 29. More than 56,000 pilgrims will be transported to Saudi Arabia on 280 flights during this major travel phase.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, has announced that preparations for Hajj 2025 are in their final stages. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, he confirmed that the first Hajj flights will begin on April 29.

This year, a total of 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj, with the quota evenly split between the government and private schemes—89,605 pilgrims each. Out of those traveling on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights, around 20,000 will be using the government scheme, while 36,000 will be going through private Hajj operators.

PIA will operate a total of 280 flights using Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 aircraft to transport over 56,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. The national airline's post-Hajj flight operation will start on June 12 and continue until July 10, bringing pilgrims back home safely.

To assist travelers, officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs will be present at airports across the country. The minister highlighted that special attention is being given to training pilgrims, so they are well-prepared and avoid any issues during their time in Saudi Arabia.

"The Saudi Minister of Hajj has assured me that top-notch arrangements have been made this year," Yousuf said. He also shared that the first phase of Hajj training has been completed and the second phase will begin on April 8.

Calling Hajj and Umrah matters of deep faith, the minister stressed that serving pilgrims is a spiritual responsibility. He also noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is closely involved and has been guiding the efforts to ensure everything goes smoothly.