Makkah:The second phase of arrivals for Pakistani pilgrims under Hajj 2026 commenced on Monday, with more than 2,000 pilgrims reaching Saudi Arabia via seven flights from various cities. Under the “Route to Mecca” project, pilgrims departing from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi benefited from a streamlined process, allowing them to bypass traditional immigration hurdles at Jeddah Airport. Within minutes of disembarking, these pilgrims were able to reach their designated buses and were immediately dispatched to their residences in Makkah.
A prestigious reception was held at the Jeddah Airport Hajj Terminal on Monday to welcome the pilgrims. High-ranking officials, including Consul General Syed Mustafa Rabani, Deputy Consul General Saadia Waqar-un-Nisa, Minister Coordination of the Pakistan Embassy Qazi Jamil-ur-Rehman, and Director General of the Pakistan Hajj Mission Abdul Wahab Soomro, were present to receive the guests. Other key officials, including Chief Coordinator Mirza Ali Mahsud, Coordinator Makkah Zulfiqar Khan, Director Hajj Jeddah Arif Aslam Rao, and Deputy Director Makkah Azizullah, also participated in the ceremony, where pilgrims were greeted with bouquets and showered with flower petals.
Detailed flight operations for the day included 360 pilgrims from Lahore via Saudi Arabian Airlines, while three flights from Islamabad—two by Saudi Arabian Airlines and one by PIA—brought in 370, 260, and 393 pilgrims, respectively. From Karachi, 350 pilgrims arrived on Saudi Arabian Airlines and 160 on Air Sial, while 154 pilgrims from Multan reached the terminal via Airblue. This diverse operation ensured a steady influx of 2,077 pilgrims on the first day of the second phase alone.
The efficiency of the “Route to Mecca” initiative was highly evident, as the dual immigration process completed at Pakistani airports saved pilgrims from long wait times and queues upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the Hajj administration arranged for the direct transport of luggage to the pilgrims’ accommodations. This logistical breakthrough meant that pilgrims did not have to wait at baggage carousels, allowing them to proceed directly to their lodgings in a hassle-free and comfortable manner.