Pakistan’s Hajj operation will officially begin on April 18. The first Hajj flight will depart on that day carrying pilgrims to the holy cities.
According to sources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a total of four flights will leave on the first day and take pilgrims to Madinah.
When will flights for Hajj 2026 begin?
Reports say the first flights will depart from Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot and Multan on April 18.
Pilgrims will be transported to Madinah in phases. After staying there, they will travel to Makkah.
Under the government Hajj scheme, 468 flights will be operated to transport pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
A total of 119,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj under the official scheme this year. The Ministry of Religious Affairs said all arrangements have been finalised.
Flight schedules, accommodation, transport and food arrangements have been coordinated with the Saudi authorities.
Officials said pilgrims will be informed next week about their flight details, departure times and training schedule.
Training workshops are being held across the country. Pilgrims are being guided about Hajj rituals, travel instructions and safety measures so they can travel with proper preparation.
Sources in the ministry said special counters will be set up at airports to assist pilgrims.
Medical checkups and vaccinations are also being completed. Support staff will also be present to guide pilgrims.
This is especially for elderly people and those people who are travelling for the first time, so they do not face any difficulty.
How can current Pakistan-Afghanistan and Iran-US-Israel situation affect Hajj 2026?
The current Pakistan and Afghanistan situation and the Iran US Israel situation could make Hajj 2026 travel harder or delay it.
Some countries have closed air routes, and major airlines have cancelled or rerouted flights. This could affect international flight schedules.
If these tensions continue, flights to and from Saudi Arabia could face delays or cancellations.
