Over 3,000 Pakistani pilgrims faced delays and cancellations in their Hajj travel plans after disruptions hit the flight operations from May 7 to 9, the Ministry of Religious Affairs confirmed on Wednesday.
According to a ministry spokesperson, thirteen Hajj flights were affected over the three days — four were cancelled and nine faced significant delays. The disruption impacted pilgrims from major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, and Multan.
Saudi Airlines cancelled two Hajj flights each from Islamabad and Lahore. Meanwhile, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) saw delays in several of its Hajj operations: 3 flights from Lahore, 2 each from Islamabad and Quetta, and 1 each from Multan and Karachi.
The flight disruptions led to changes in travel schedules for at least 3,080 pilgrims. While most delayed flights were eventually cleared for departure within a few hours, special arrangements were made for others.
To ease the backlog, a special flight from Islamabad carried 345 pilgrims today. The ministry also announced that another 540 pilgrims will be sent to Saudi Arabia through special flights from Islamabad and Lahore in the coming days.
Authorities are monitoring the situation closely to prevent further disruptions and ensure smooth travel for the remaining Hajj pilgrims.
