- Aftab Gilani receives pilgrims at the airport.
- More than 1.7 million people are performing Hajj this year.
- The Hajj takes place in intense heat.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Hajj return operations began on Saturday evening with the arrival of the first flight carrying 117 pilgrims to Islamabad, officials said.
Airport Director Aftab Gilani received the pilgrims on their arrival at the Islamabad airport.
The return flights began after more than 1.7 million Muslims from 165 countries completed the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in intense heat.
Thousands of pilgrims began leaving Mecca after the pilgrimage rituals, including the stoning ritual at Mina and the farewell tawaf at the Grand Mosque.
This year’s Hajj took place in scorching weather, with Saudi authorities introducing heat mitigation measures after more than 1,300 pilgrims died during the 2024 pilgrimage when temperatures exceeded 50C.
The Saudi Red Crescent said it had provided emergency services to more than 83,000 people since the start of the Hajj season.
Hajj flight operations from Pakistan had started last month, when the first group of 160 pilgrims departed from Karachi via a private airline.
Under the Road to Makkah project, one-time immigration for pilgrims was carried out at Karachi Airport before departure.
More than 55,000 pilgrims are believed to have been transported by Pakistan International Airlines via 191 flights to Saudi Arabia, including around 49,000 under the government program and around 6,000 through private groups.
