ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: More than 15,500 intending pilgrims have been airlifted to Saudi Arabia since the start of Haj operation on December 26, a spokesman for the ministry of religious affairs said on Thursday.

PIA will operate 320 special Haj flights from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta for carrying 111,572 intending Haj pilgrims to the holy land.

The spokesman said Saudi Airlines would also airlift more than 10,000 pilgrims to Jeddah. He said the pre-Haj operation would conclude on January 26. The post-Haj operation will begin on February 5 and end on March 6.

He said to ensure a comfortable stay of the pilgrims at Haji camps, dispensaries, telegraph offices and PCOs would operate round-the-clock. -APP