545 intending pilgrims left for Madinah by two flights

SIALKOT, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2026) Hajj operations began here on Sunday as two flights carrying

545 intending pilgrims left for Madinah, Saudi Arabia from Sialkot

International Airport Limited (SIAL).

According to official sources, a flight of AirSial (PF-7702) carried

155 intending pilgrims while a flight (PK-747) of Pakistan International

Airlines (PIA) transported 390 intending pilgrims to Madinah from

Sialkot International Airport.

Earlier, a special ceremony to bade farewell was held at SIAL.

Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif was the chief guest

of the ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by Provincial Minister for Labour and

Human Resource Manshaullah Butt, Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA)

Faisal Ikram, Director Hajj Operations Punjab Muhammad Rizwan Sharif,

Incharge Hajj Operations Sialkot Mujeeb Akbar Shah, Chairman SIAL

Hassan Ali Bhatti, Vice Chairman SIAL Waqas Afzal, CEO AirSial Ahsan Amin,

Senior Vice Chairman (SVC) AirSial Qaiser Baryar, Convener SIAL Hajj

Committee Ghulam Murtaza, SIAL Management and a large gathering of Hajj pilgrims.

Addressing the gathering, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif extended

heartfelt wishes to the intending pilgrims for a safe and blessed Hajj.

He said that intending pilgrims were representatives of Muslims from

allover the world, members should pay Hajj humbly, abide by Saudi laws

and observe discipline.

He urged the Hajj pilgrims to offer special prayers on behalf of the entire

nation for the development  and prosperity of the country.

Khawaja Muhammad Asif also commended the dedicated efforts of Sialkot

International Airport and its entire team for ensuring seamless facilitation.

Director Hajj Operations Punjab Muhammad Rizwan Sharif said the ministry

had made the best arrangements for the intending pilgrims in Sialkot like

in other cities of the country.

He said that Hajj pilgrims would have excellent accommodations in Makkah

and Madinah as well.

In-charge Hajj Operations Sialkot Syed Mujeeb Akbar Shah told APP that

a total of 26 flights, including 21 AirSial and 5 PIA flights, would transport

approximately 5,000 intending pilgrims from SIAL to Saudi Arabia.

Chairman Sialkot International Airport (SIAL) Hassan Ali Bhatti acknowledged

the unprecedented support of Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.