Islamabad: The country's religious affairs ministry has announced that Pakistan will begin offering direct Hajj flights to Makkah on Monday.

On May 21, the Pakistani government started sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia as part of the official Hajj programme.

The only destination of the flights, though, has been Madinah. As the annual Islamic pilgrimage, which is scheduled to begin on June 26, approaches, a large number of Pakistani worshippers in the Kingdom are currently travelling by bus to Makkah.

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The ministry announced in a statement that "the first direct flights from Pakistan to Jeddah airport are scheduled to begin on June 5."

According to Pakistan's state-run news agency, the Associated Press of Pakistan, flights to Makkah will originate from ten different cities within the country, including Rahim Yar Khan and Sukkur.

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After completing Hajj, pilgrims who are going straight to Makkah will spend eight days in Madinah.

On July 4, Pakistan will begin operating post-Hajj return flights.

Saudi Arabia lifted the 65-year-old age restriction and reinstated Pakistan's pre-coronavirus pandemic Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims in January.

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This year, the nation intends to send 80,000 pilgrims abroad through a government programme; the remaining pilgrims will travel through private tour companies.