Pakistan begins special flights to ship 7 million pilgrims to Mecca

Pakistan started Monday its month-long special flights operation to transport some seven million "Hajj" pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, official sources said.

Most of these pilgrims would fly through the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), while some foreign airlines have also joined hands in the annual exercise, an official of Pakistani Ministry for Hajj and Religious Affairs said.

The pilgrims will fly from four major airports located in the main cities of Pakistan including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.

The annual Hajj rite is the fifth basic fundamental obligatory requirement for Muslims who believe in Islam. The pilgrims will head toward the two Holy cities of Mecca and Madina to perform the religious rites.

Source: Xinhua