The post-Hajj flights operation to bring back 160,000 Pakistani pilgrims from Saudi Arabia after Hajj was completed on Thursday. The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) brought back over 121,447 pilgrims through 364 special Hajj flights from Saudi Arabia since December 24, an official of the Pakistan s Religious Affairs Ministry said. The remaining pilgrims were airlifted by Saudi airlines from the Holy land. Approximately 33,866 pilgrims were flown back to Karachi by 81 Hajj flights, 26,149 by 61 flights to Islamabad, 31,760 to Lahore by 74 flights, 18,914 to Peshawar by 93 flights and 10,758 pilgrims to Quetta by 55 flights respectively. The official said a total of 159,588 pilgrims performed Hajj from Pakistan this year out of which 79,500 were sent for pilgrimage under the government scheme.
