Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) successfully operated its first post-Hajj return flight, bringing home 307 Pakistani pilgrims from Jeddah to Islamabad early Thursday morning.
The special flight, PK-742, landed at Islamabad International Airport where government officials, PIA staff, and family members warmly welcomed the returning pilgrims. The passengers, who completed their spiritual journey in Saudi Arabia, expressed gratitude for the arrangements made by both Saudi and Pakistani authorities.
PIA has announced that it will operate over 250 post-Hajj flights over the coming weeks, aiming to repatriate more than 70,000 Pakistani pilgrims across major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta.
A PIA spokesperson stated that the airline is committed to ensuring smooth, comfortable, and timely services during the entire Hajj return operation, which is expected to continue until mid-July.
The successful arrival of the first flight marks the beginning of Pakistan’s large-scale post-Hajj repatriation effort for 2025.
