First Hajj flight from Islamabad to depart on April 19

ISLAMABAD: The first Hajj flight from the federal capital will leave Islamabad International Airport on April 19, formally marking the start of the pilgrimage journey from the city.

According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a special ceremony will be organised at the airport to see off the first group of pilgrims.

The spokesperson said the nationwide Hajj flight operation will begin on April 18, while Sunday, April 19, will be a key date for Islamabad as thousands of intending pilgrims are set to begin their سفر to Hijaz-e-Muqaddas from the capital.

The ministry’s spokesperson said pilgrims departing from Islamabad will go through a distinctive and digitised travel process.

Islamabad operation to begin a day after nationwide launch

Hajj flights across the country are scheduled to start on April 18. Islamabad’s first departure, however, is set for the following day, when the capital’s outbound operation will begin from Islamabad International Airport.

The start of the Islamabad operation is being presented as an important point in this year’s arrangements, with the first contingent of pilgrims expected to depart after the farewell ceremony at the airport.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs spokesperson did not provide further operational details in the report, but confirmed the date of the first Islamabad flight and the arrangements for the send-off ceremony.

The development comes as preparations for Hajj travel continue under the official schedule announced for this year’s flight operation. The report specifically states that the countrywide operation will commence on April 18, followed by Islamabad’s first Hajj flight on April 19.

For pilgrims departing from the federal capital, the launch of the operation will mark the beginning of their journey to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. The ministry spokesperson described the process in Islamabad as a unique and digitised travel experience.

With the first flight now scheduled, airport arrangements in Islamabad are set to move into effect for the departure of the initial batch of pilgrims. The ceremony at the airport will serve as the formal send-off for those travelling on the first flight from the capital.

The announcement sets out the timeline for the opening phase of Hajj departures, with April 18 designated for the start of flights nationwide and April 19 fixed for the first departure from Islamabad.