Overview
- The repatriation effort began May 31, with Pakistan International Airlines inaugural return flights landing in Islamabad as the nationwide operation moved into its first full day.
- Officials expected 22 flights to bring about 5,237 pilgrims on June 1 with a planned city distribution that included five flights to Islamabad and four each to Karachi and Lahore.
- Under the government scheme authorities finalized plans to return roughly 119,000 pilgrims via about 471 flights while PIA announced it will run 213 flights for more than 53,000 passengers.
- Multiple airports including Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan received the first post‑Hajj arrivals and activated reception measures such as dedicated immigration counters, baggage handling and officials to meet pilgrims.
- The operation follows a Hajj season that hosted roughly 1.7 million pilgrims and comes against the backdrop of heat‑related risks that prompted Saudi mitigation steps, affecting planning and in‑flight and on‑ground services for returning worshippers.