Pre-Hajj flight operation from November 24

[Abbas Ali]

ISLAMABAD, Oct 30 (APP): The pre-Hajj operation to airlift 150,000 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia would start from November 24 and complete on December 25.

"The flight schedule has been finalized to ferry the pilgrims to Holy land which would be announced in a couple of days," spokesman of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr, Khawas Khan Niazi told APP here on Monday.

He said Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national flag carrier would transport about 124,500 intending pilgrims to Jeddah and Madina, while Saudi Airline would airlift about 25,500 pilgrims for Hajj this year.

To facilitate the intending pilgrims further, he added that about 16,500 pilgrims would directly be flown to Madina out of which 15,000 would travel through PIA while 1,500 through Saudi Airline.

He said all the return flights would be operated from Jeddah airport.

The return flights would start from January 4, 2007 and would be completed on February 3 next year, he added.

The spokesman said the special Hajj flights would be operated from airports of Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Sukkur and Faisalabad.

The pilgrims from Sukkur would reach Jeddah via Karachi while Hajj flights from Multan and Faisalabad airports depart to Jeddah via Lahore.

About residential accommodation for the pilgrims in Makkah and Madina, he said the Ministry has arranged the accommodation for 75,000 intending pilgrims who would perform Hajj under the government scheme.

"We have hired buildings in Makkah and Madina for almost all the pilgrims who have opted for white and green residential categories under the government scheme," he added.

Khawas Khan Niazi said as many as 63,592 intending pilgrims were selected to perform Hajj-2006 under government scheme through computerized balloting.

About 7,158 applicants who failed to get selected for Hajj in 2005 and 2006 have also been selected, he added.

Khawas Khan Niazi informed that 3,500 intending pilgrims would be sent under the parliamentarian quota while upto 500 applicants were selected against labour quota and 150 applicants would perform Hajj against quota of Hajj Foundation.

Another 100 would be airlifted for the annual pilgrimage under UAE sponsorship scheme, he added.

The successful applicants have been informed through Post Office.

He asked the unsuccessful applicants to consult their concerned branches of banks for refund of their amount deposited as Hajj dues.

The Spokesman said all the arrangements to facilitate the intending pilgrims at Hajji camps and airports have been finalized.

The medical mission and Khauddam ul Hajjaj would also be sent to Saudi Arabia to facilitate our pilgrims in Holy Land before start of pre-Hajj operation, he added.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

[nutsforplanes]

Wonder how PIA is going to handle this, with 4 747's permanently grounded.

Looks like wet-leasing on a massive scale for this operation.

[Abbas Ali]

.... arrangements at Karachi would be somewhat delayed as PIA was unable to transport the required pilgrims to Jaddah because of non-availability of its jumbo aircraft from November 24 to December 5.

In order to resolve the pilgrims transportation problems, a meeting of four airline companies--Gulf, Ittihad, Emirates, Egyptian/Jordanian, was convened for tomorrow, November 6, said Vakil Khan.

First Haj flight on Nov 24

LAHORE, Nov 5 (APP)- First Hajj flight would take off either from Islamabad or Quetta to Saudi Arabia on November 24, said federal Religious Affairs Ministry's Secretary Vakil Ahmed Khan said Sunday.

Briefing newsmen at Hajj Directorate here on Sunday, he said this year 155,000 Pakistani pilgrims would perform Hajj. The ministry had received 151,000 Hajj applications against 75,000 seats under Government Scheme and the required number of applications was accepted on merit.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Federal Religious Affairs Minister Ejazul Haq made efforts and got approved another 5,000 seats from Saudi Government thus extending the total qouta up to 155,0000. Decision on these additional seats had yet to be taken and a summary had also been sent to the Prime Minister in this regard,he explained. "It's my personal suggestion that selection on these 5000 seats should be made from amongst those intending pilgrims who could not succeed in the draw last and this year," he maintained. Vakil said all arrangements such as preparation of passports, place of departure, flight seats and building allocation would be finalised today, adding that all relevant departments including PIA, Saudi Airline, police, Customs, ANF, Boys Scouts and Immigration were in contact for collaboration. However, he said arrangements at Karachi would be somewhat delayed as PIA was unable to transport the required pilgrims to Jaddah because of non-availability of its jumbo aircraft from November 24 to December 5.

In order to resolve the pilgrims transportation problems, a meeting of four airline companies--Gulf, Ittihad, Emirates, Egyptian/Jordanian, was convened for tomorrow, November 6, said Vakil Khan.

Later, addressing the group leaders/intending pilgrims at the directorate, the Federal Secretary said that Pakistan had made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the Hujjaj at Haji camps as well as at holy cities of Makkah and Madina Munnawara.

"Our resource persons will brief in detail the pilgrims about Haj rituals through various means including video slides," he added.

However, urged the Haj pilgrims not to bring along their relatives, as they (relatives) will not be allowed to enter the camp premises.

Earlier, Deputy Director Hajj Saleem Akhtar and Prof. Saleemullah apprised the participants about travel procedure and Hajj rituals. Director Haj Lahore, Syed Farogh Aftab Zaidi was also present.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

[smarties]

Wonder how PIA is going to handle this, with 4 747's permanently grounded.

What are the regs of the 4 grounded 747's? I presume BAT and BAK are included. I thought the 747's were ok to fly to ASIA and the Middle-east?

[Abbas Ali]

First Hajj flight to depart on 25th

ISLAMABAD: The first special Hajj flight PK-9603, carrying 433 intending pilgrims, would leave for Jeddah from Islamabad airport on Saturday (Nov. 25). Speaker National Assembly Ch. Amir Hussain would see off the intending pilgrims at the airport. Spokesman and Joint Secretary (Hajj), Ministry of Religious Affairs, Khawas Khan Niazi told on Monday.

He said the first Hajj flight PK-8401 from Lahore and PK-1101 from Karachi would also leave for Saudi Arabia on the same day while the first Hajj flight PK-1803 from Peshawar would depart on Friday. The Hajj flights from airports of Quetta, Multan and Sukkur would reach Jeddah via Karachi while Hajj flights from Faisalabad Airport would be sent to Jeddah via Lahore.

Khawas Khan said that 462 special Hajj flights would airlift 150,000 intending pilgrims to the Holy Land by December 25. PIA would transport about 124,500 intending pilgrims to Jeddah and Madina while Saudi Arabian Airlines would airlift about 25,500 pilgrims for Hajj this year. To facilitate the intending pilgrims further, he added that about 16,500 pilgrims would directly be flown to Madina out of which 15,000 would travel through PIA while 1,500 through Saudi Arabian Airlines.

He said all the return flights would be operated from Jeddah Airport. The return flights would start from January 4, 2007 and would be completed by February 3 next year, he added. The intending pilgrims had also been advised to report to the Hajj Camp three days before the departure of flights for vaccination and fulfillment of other required formalities.

Source: The News

[Abbas Ali]

PIA first pre-Hajj flight leaves for Saudi Arabia

KARACHI, Nov. 25 (APP) PIA’s first pre-Hajj flight from Karachi left here in wee hours of Saturday with 205 pilgrims on board, signalling the beginning of national airline’s massive Hajj operation to Saudi Arabia from five cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta.

PIA will operate 354 flights to ferry 128,000 intending Hajj pilgrims.

PIA will operate 30 Hajj flights directly for Madinah including 10 flights from Karachi, 10 from Lahore and 10 from Islamabad.

The first flight from Karachi was seen off by Sindh Governor, Dr.Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan.

State Minister for Religious Affairs, Dr Amer Liaquat Hussain, Advisor to Chief Minister for Home, Waseem Akhtar, Senior Vice-President PIA Syed Kamran Hasan, Director Technical CAA, Air Commodore M. Jawaid and Director Haj, besides other senior PIA, CAA, ASF, Immigration and Custom officials were also present on the occasion.

The pre-Hajj operation entails a total of 104 flights from Karachi to carry 18,225 pilgrims, 72 flights from Lahore, transporting 25,704 intending pilgrims. Similarly, PIA will be carrying 10,701 pilgrims from Islamabad on 45 flights 1935 pilgrims on 67 flights from Peshawar.

The pre-Hajj operation will complete on December 25 while the post-Hajj operation from Jeddah will commence on January 04, 2007.

This year PIA has made special arrangements to provide complimentary Haj books, Ahrams to male Hajis and lady gowns with scarf to females before their departure at Haji Camps.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

[Abbas Ali]

Pre-Hajj flights operation to conclude today

ISLAMABAD: The pre-Hajj operation to airlift about 150,000 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj would conclude with the departure of last special Hajj flight from Islamabad International Airport here on Monday.

“The last special Hajj flight PK-1731 is scheduled to leave for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from the Federal Capital at 1845 hours,” official sources told AFP here on Sunday. He said a total of 462 special Hajj flights were operated to ferry 150,000 intending pilgrims to the Holy Land in one month.

The national flag carrier, PIA transported about 124,500 intending pilgrims to Jeddah and Madina while Saudi Arabian Airlines took about 25,500 pilgrims for Hajj during the pre-Hajj operation. To facilitate the intending pilgrims further, he added that about 16,500 pilgrims were directly flown to Madina out of which 15,000 travelled through PIA while 1,500 through Saudi airline. He said all the return flights would be operated from Jeddah Airport.

About the post-Hajj operation he said, the return flights would start from January 4, next year, adding, all the pilgrims would be brought back home till February 3.

Source: The News[/b]