Pakistan Begins Hajj Repatriation Operation as First Pilgrims Return Home
By Sardar Burhan :
Pakistan’s post-Hajj flight operation got underway on Saturday night, with the first group of pilgrims returning home after completing the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
The inaugural return flight landed at Islamabad International Airport carrying 117 pilgrims, marking the start of a nationwide repatriation programme that will bring thousands of Pakistani worshippers back from the Kingdom over the coming weeks. Airport Manager Aftab Gilani welcomed the returning pilgrims upon their arrival.
The return operation follows the conclusion of Hajj 2026, which drew more than 1.7 million Muslims from around the world to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Pilgrims completed key religious rites, including the symbolic stoning of the devil at Mina, prayers at Mount Arafat, and the farewell tawaf around the Holy Kaaba before beginning their journeys home.
This year’s pilgrimage took place under extreme weather conditions, with temperatures reaching dangerously high levels in parts of Saudi Arabia. In response to lessons learned from the 2024 Hajj season, when more than 1,300 pilgrims lost their lives due to heat-related causes, Saudi authorities implemented extensive measures aimed at protecting worshippers from extreme temperatures.
The Saudi Red Crescent reported that it provided emergency medical and support services to more than 83,000 people during the Hajj season. Additional shaded areas, cooling stations, water distribution points and enhanced medical facilities were deployed across pilgrimage sites to help reduce the impact of the intense heat.
Pakistan had launched its outbound Hajj operation last month, with the first flight carrying pilgrims departing from Karachi. Under the Road to Makkah initiative, many Pakistani pilgrims completed Saudi immigration procedures before departure, allowing them to bypass immigration formalities upon arrival in the Kingdom.
According to official figures, more than 55,000 Pakistani pilgrims were transported to Saudi Arabia by Pakistan International Airlines through 191 flights. Of these, nearly 49,000 travelled under the government’s Hajj scheme, while around 6,000 performed the pilgrimage through private tour operators.
Authorities have said the return operation will continue in phases to ensure the smooth transportation of pilgrims from various Pakistani cities. Special arrangements have been put in place at airports to facilitate arrivals and assist elderly passengers and those requiring medical support.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is mandatory once in a lifetime for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey. The annual pilgrimage remains one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, bringing together worshippers from diverse nationalities and backgrounds in a demonstration of faith and unity.
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