Pakistan begins second phase of Hajj 2025 flight operations
Over 89,000 pilgrims to travel under government scheme across 342 flights
ISLAMABAD/DUBAI: Pakistan has officially entered the second phase of its Hajj 2025 flight operations, supporting over 89,000 pilgrims scheduled to perform the annual pilgrimage under the government scheme.
The 33-day operation, which started on 29th April, includes 342 outbound flights to Saudi Arabia, with the last departure planned for 31st May.
This latest phase was marked by the arrival of 305 Pakistani pilgrims at Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz International Airport on Wednesday. They travelled directly from Islamabad under the Makkah Route Initiative, a project that allows pilgrims to complete immigration and travel formalities at the airport of origin.
Streamlined processing
Nearly 50,500 Pakistani pilgrims will benefit from the Road to Makkah initiative this year. Launched in 2019, the Saudi-backed programme has since been extended to five countries and is currently operational in Islamabad and Karachi. It aims to save pilgrims hours of waiting time by clearing Saudi immigration procedures in Pakistan prior to departure.
This year, 28,000 pilgrims are expected to depart from Islamabad and another 22,500 from Karachi under this initiative. A total of 180 flights – 100 from Islamabad and 80 from Karachi – have been scheduled as part of the Road to Makkah operations. The first such flight carrying 310 pilgrims landed in Jeddah yesterday and was received by Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, along with senior consulate officials.
Modernised facilities
According to the Director of Hajj in Makkah, Azizullah Khan, Pakistani pilgrims will this year benefit from “historic” upgrades to accommodation and services. Pilgrims will stay in newly renovated camps in Mina equipped with sofa-cum-beds, gypsum walls, air conditioning, and elevated luggage racks. Accommodation in Makkah includes top-tier hotels and buildings in Azizia and Batha Quraish areas.
A dedicated team of medical professionals, moavineen, and officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has been deployed to provide 24/7 support. Nine dispensaries have been set up in Makkah and two in Madinah, in addition to fully equipped hospitals in both cities.
Digital facilitation has also been enhanced. Nearly 99% of Pakistani pilgrims have received Nusuk cards – Saudi Arabia’s official Hajj permit and ID. Pilgrims are being provided with special Hajj kits featuring QR-coded bags for identification and tracking.
Digital expansion
Hajj-related services have been significantly digitised this year. Pilgrims can now access training schedules, flight itineraries, accommodation details, and live location maps through mobile applications such as Nusuk, Tawakkalna, Hajj Navigator, and Pakistan’s own Pak Hajj 2025 App.
For the first time, the government Hajj scheme includes a payment plan in three instalments, and all financial transactions have been digitised to ensure transparency. A Monitoring Cell has also been set up to assist those travelling through private operators, who number around 23,000 this year.
Pakistan’s total Hajj quota for 2025 stands at 179,210, split equally between the government and private sectors. However, only 23,620 pilgrims have opted for the private route this year. With thousands already in the Kingdom, Pakistan’s multi-layered operation continues to expand as the pilgrimage approaches.