Pre-Hajj flight operation to airlift 180,000 intending Pakistani pilgrims to Saudi Arabia began on Saturday.

The first Hajj flight carrying 316 intending pilgrims landed at Madinah Munawara today.

Radio Pakistan correspondent Javed Iqbal reports from Madinah Munawara that these intending pilgrims arrived through the PIA flight PK 773.

Pakistani pilgrims were welcomed by Director General Hajj, Abdul Wahab Somroo, Director Hajj and other officials of Pakistani Hajj Mission.

Gifts and bouquets were also distributed among the arriving intending pilgrims.

Talking to Radio Pakistan’s correspondent Javed Iqbal at Madinah Airport, the intending pilgrims expressed satisfaction over facilities provided by Pakistani and Saudi authorities at immigration desk and for their transportation.

Meanwhile, 899 other intending Pakistani pilgrims have also arrived in Madinah today through Serene and PIA airlines from Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi.