PIA’s pre-hajj operation to start from July 5

KARACHI: PIA Pre-hajj operation of transporting intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan will commence from July 5, 2019. PIA will transport more than 78,000 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia through nearly 300 flights from Pakistan.

Four Pre-Hajj flights that will depart on the first day of Pre-Hajj operation on July 5, 2019 include PK741 from Islamabad, PK 743 from Karachi, PK 759 from Lahore and PK 735 from Peshawar carrying more 1,300 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

CEO PIA, Air Marshal Arshad Malik will see off the intending pilgrims of the first Pre Hajj Flight from Islamabad.

The Pre- Hajj flights will operate from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Sialkot, Multan, Faisalabad and Quetta.The flights from Rahim Yar Khan and Sukkur will operate via Karachi.

All arrangements have been finalized by PIA for the Hajj operation 2019. CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik has instructed the PIA Hajj team members to provide best services to the Intending pilgrims.

PIA will operate nearly 300 Hajj and regular scheduled flights to Jeddah and Madinah. The airline will transport 13,171 intending pilgrims from Islamabad through 46 flights, 19,745 intending pilgrims from Karachi through 62 flights, 15,562 pilgrims from Lahore through 51 flights, 10,446 from Peshawar through 29 flights, 4,358 intending pilgrims from Sialkot through 12 flights, 5,077 intending pilgrims from Multan through 21 flights, 1,549 pilgrims from Faisalabad through 17 flights and 8,350 intending pilgrims will be transported through 56 flights from Quetta.

For the first time, the Intending Pilgrims will have the facility of completion of all immigration and customs requirement at New Islamabad International Airport. Initially, this facility is only available at Islamabad Airport which has been cleared by Saudi Authorities. More than 10,600 intending pilgrims from Islamabad traveling by PIA on government Hajj scheme will benefit from this facility.

The airline’s Pre Hajj operation will conclude on 5th August 2019. The Post Hajj operation of bringing back the Hujjaj from Saudi Arabia will commence from 17th August and conclude on 14th September 2019.