ISLAMABAD: Specially-designated flights for Hajj will no longer be operational after August 6, officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MRA) said on Monday.
All pre-Hajj flights had been assigned by Pakistan from July 4 to cater to 200,000 nationals traveling to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.
Commenting on the initiative, MRA spokesperson, Imran Siddiqui said that 129,000 pilgrims – including the 93,000 availing the government scheme and the 36,000 using the services of private operators – have reached Saudi Arabia so far.
To facilitate pilgrims in the Kingdom, Pakistan’s Hajj mission in-charge for Jeddah Airport, Inaam ul Haq, said that dedicated staff, popularly known as Moaveneen, are working round-the-clock to assist the pilgrims flying in from various destinations, the MRA said in a statement released on Sunday.
“A lost and found kiosk has also been set up at the airport which helps pilgrims to locate their misplaced luggage and other belongings,” excerpts from the statement read.
Prior to the start of the special Hajj flights, a team of officials from Saudi had visited the capital last week to install an immigration system at the Islamabad International Airport as part of the ‘Road to Makkah’ project.
The move follows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Pakistan in February this year, wherein he had announced plans to include Islamabad in the Road to Makkah project – on the personal request of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Under the project, all pilgrims traveling to the Kingdom for Hajj can clear immigration in Pakistan, instead of having to do so on arrival in Saudi.
Pre-Hajj flights from Pakistan to Saudi to end on August 6
Pre-Hajj flights from Pakistan to Saudi to end on August 6
- Had been designated from July 4 to cater to nearly 200,000 pilgrims
- More than 1,29,000 nationals have already reached the Kingdom by using the services
Pakistan stocks recover as oil supply fears ease after Islamabad seeks Red Sea route— analyst
- Pakistan has sought Saudi help to secure oil supplies via Red Sea port after Iran’s closure of Strait if Hormuz
- Analyst says higher crude oil prices, expectations of IMF releasing next loan tranche also triggered bullish activity
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani stocks marked a sharp recovery when trading closed on Thursday, as institutional activity increased following Islamabad’s move to seek crude oil supplies through the Red Sea port eased oil supply fears, a financial analyst said.
Pakistani stocks have recorded a sharp decline this week, with the benchmark KSE-100 index recording its largest-ever single-day decline on Monday when it plunged 16,089 points. Escalating conflict in the Middle East triggered panic selling at the Pakistani bourse, forcing a temporary trading halt on Monday.
The KSE-100 index, however, gained 3.49 percent or 5,433.46 points to close at 161,210.67 when trading ended on Thursday, up from the previous close of 155,777.21 points, according to Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) data.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Wednesday to discuss Iran’s closure of the key Strait of Hormuz, which has threatened Pakistan’s energy supply. Roughly 20 percent of the global oil and gas supply passes through the route. Saudi Arabia indicated it could facilitate shipments through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, offering an alternative route if Gulf shipping lanes remain disrupted, the petroleum ministry said on Wednesday.
“Stocks staged a sharp recovery at PSX amid institutional activity on easing fuel supply fears after KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] commits oil supplies through the Red Sea port,” Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities, told Arab News.
He said higher global crude oil prices and expectations of the International Monetary Fund releasing its next tranche of the $7 billion loan for Pakistan also helped bullish activity at the PSX.
An IMF mission was in Pakistan to hold talks on the third review of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility multi-year program, and for the second review of the $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility this week.
However, the delegation left for Türkiye amid tensions in the Gulf. Pakistani officials have said talks are likely to continue virtually in the coming days.
Pakistani brokerage Topline Securities said in its daily market review report that strong institutional buying “turned the tide” on Thursday after the market’s recent overreaction to regional issues.
The report added that Hub Power Company (HUBC), Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDC), Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), Engro Corporation (ENGROH), and Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) collectively contributed 2,197 points to the KSE benchmark’s gain.
Topline Securities said 723 million shares were traded on Thursday, with K-Electric Limited (KEL) stealing the spotlight as more than 1.17 billion shares changed hands.
Pakistani investors are closely monitoring developments in the Gulf, particularly around energy routes and further retaliatory actions, as the conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain.
