Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)’s special Haj flight (PK-2103), having 330 intending pilgrims on board, left Benazir Bhutto International Airport early Tuesday morning.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, senior officials of the ministry, Saudi Embassy, PIA and Civil Aviation Authority were also present on the occasion. Addressing the pilgrims, Yousaf said the ministry has made a special help-line (0800-77000; 0800-1166622) operational to facilitate the intending pilgrims. The complaints could also be registered at the website of the ministry. The complaints would be monitored personally by the Religious Affairs secretary. He said that 11-member Haj Advisory Committee would monitor the entire Haj operation. The committee has the representation of the ministry, Haj Group Organisers, standing committee of the Parliament and parliamentary secretary on religious affairs.
A total of 143,368 Pakistani pilgrims would go to Saudi Arabia for performing the sacred religious ceremony through 288 Haj flights.
Due to ongoing construction of extension of Khana-e-Kaaba this year, the Saudi government has reduced Haj quota by 20 percent, he said. Consequently 46,000 pilgrims would not perform the sacred religious obligations. The last Hajj flight would go to Saudi Arabia on October 9. The post-Haj flights operation would commence from October 19 and conclude on November 18.
He said the ministry has issued orders to the airlines to strictly adhere to departure and arrival schedule; heavy fines would be imposed on the airline on their failure in this regard.
A total of 122 buildings have already been hired in Saudi Arabia to accommodate 86,021 Government Scheme Pilgrims. A 540-member Haj Medical Mission would remain present in Saudi Arabia for providing medical facilities to the intending pilgrims. Moreover, 230 Mauvineen-e-Hujjaj, 270 seasonal staff and 900 local Muavneen would be present for assisting the pilgrims. He asked the pilgrims to respect Saudi laws and act as a representative of Pakistan. According to official sources, PIA will operate a total of 214 Hajj flights to Jeddah and Makkah. The special Haj flights would leave from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan, Quetta, Faisalabad, Multan and Sialkot. This year, PIA will be transporting approximately 70,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia through 166 pre-Haj flights from Karachi (including Multan, Faisalabad and Sukkur), Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta. PIA will operate Haj flights with dedicated 02 Boeing 747, 02 Boeing 777 aircraft with one aircraft each kept as standby. Boeing 777 aircraft will mainly be operated from Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta whereas Lahore, Islamabad, Multan and Sialkot will entirely be operated by Boeing 747 aircraft. Boeing 747 aircraft has a seating capacity of 503 while Boeing 777 has a seating capacity of 329.
On pre-Hajj flights, the airline will transport 6,985 intending pilgrims from Karachi through 17 pre-Hajj flights (including more than 1,623 intending pilgrims from Sukkur via Karachi), 6,944 intending pilgrims from Lahore through 14 flights, 12,575 passengers through 25 flights from Islamabad, 15,463 through 47 flights from Peshawar, 10,199 from Quetta through 31 flights, 6,170 intending pilgrims through 12 flights from Multan and 3,590 intending pilgrims from Sialkot will be transported through seven pre-Haj flights. As many as 8,000 pilgrims will be transported through PIA’s regular scheduled flights to Saudi Arabia, he added. He said pilgrims are allowed to carry five liters of Zamzam (subject to conditions of Saudi government).
In order to facilitate the pilgrims, all agencies including airlines, ASF, Immigration, Customs, Anti Narcotics, Airport Health and Haj Directorate have been directed to extend full cooperation and coordination. The CAA management has also requested to the general public to avoid visiting airports unnecessarily and to avoid unwanted crowed in the Concourse Hall and Car Park area. Airport Manager Ayaz Jadoon said that 30,000 intending pilgrims would leave for Hijaz-e-Muqaddas from Islamabad through various airlines. All possible facilities are being provided to the pilgrims as they were the guests of Allah.
CTP ISSUES TRAFFIC PLAN DURING HAJJ FLIGHTS: City Traffic Police (CTP) has issued the traffic plan to facilitate the Haj pilgrims during Haj flights, vehicles will be specially checked to prevent any unpleasant activity. Chief Traffic Office (CTO) Syed Ishteyaq Hussain Shah while addressing to the meeting in regard of traffic plan for Haj pilgrims said that in the case of incoming of more vehicles in city, vehicles coming from Koral road will be parked at service road, while vehicles coming from Chohan Chowk will be parked at FWO road and Laliyal Link Road signal. Special squad will be also available for 24 hours on helpline 1915, and action will be taken against without number plate vehicles and motorbikes. CTO directed all traffic wardens to perform their duty with responsibilities to facilitate pilgrims.
