PIA to fly 125,000 pilgrims

[Abbas Ali]

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has so far taken 83777 Hajj pilgrims to the Holy Land through 242 flights operating from the four provincial capitals and Islamabad.

The PIA spokesperson informed that Chairman PIA Tariq Kirmani was personally supervising the Hajj flight operation to maintain 95 per cent regularity.

PIA would be transporting 125,000 Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia through 346 Hajj flights and it has flown 23631 pilgrims from Karachi through 58 flights, 20126 from Islamabad through 45 flights, 20642 from Lahore through 47 flights.

From Peshawar the airline had the honour of taking 11867 faithful through 56 flights to perform hajj and from Queta PIA provided services to 7511 aspirants to their holly destination through 36 flights.

PIA would also operate 54 Hajj flights directly for Madina, 9 flights from Karachi, 23 from Lahore and 22 from Islamabad.

For the convenience of pilgrims, PIA has made special arrangements to provide complimentary Hajj Books (Anwar-e-harmain and Aamal-e-Hajj, Ahrams for male pilgrims and lady gowns/Aba for females before departure to Hajj Camps.

The ongoing pre-Hajj operation started from December 3 and it will conclude on January 4 while the post Hajj flights will commence from Jan 14, 2006.

Source: The News

[Abbas Ali]

Link to PIA Hajj Flights Schedule: http://www.piac.com.pk/hajj/hajj_index.asp