RAWALPINDI, Dec 16: The first Haj flight carrying 267 passengersleft for Saudi Arabia on Thursday, marking the beginning of this year's Haj operation.

Chairman Senate Mohammedmian Soomro and federal Minister for Religious Affairs Ijazul Haq were present at the airport to see off the pilgrims.

The Pakistan International Airlines would operate 370 flights carrying 1,41,232 pilgrims. The pre-Haj operation would continue till January 15 during which 67 flights would originate from the capital, carrying 28,097 pilgrims.

There has been around 30 per cent increase in the number of pilgrims from Islamabad airport during the last couple of years whereas the number of Haj flights from the airport has risen by about the same figure.