KARACHI: Saudi Arabia’s Haj officials have fined the PIA 2.4 million riyals for not providing pilgrims with ED forms and also for the delay and cancellation of flights, Pakistan Today has learnt.
According to sources in the national carrier, PIA is now trying to settle the matter with the Saudi officials and has offered them gifts to have the fine waived off.
There was a shortage of ED forms provided by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to the pilgrims, who are supposed to fill them before arriving in Saudi Arabia, the sources said, adding that many pilgrims did not have those cards when they reached Saudi Arabia despite the fact that the PIA tried its best to make each pilgrim fill that form, the sources added.
The ED form confirms the pilgrim’s time of arrival in Saudi Arabia. The national carrier has contacted all the ministries concerned such as the Defence, Foreign and Religious Affairs for the settlement of the issue.
Saudi Haj officials fine PIA 2.4m riyals
