ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have furthered Saudi Arabia’s Zamzam water initiative for Hajj and made every arrangement to provide the holy water to Hajj pilgrims upon their arrival back to Pakistan, the Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Friday.
“The Zamzam water will be available at all small and major airports of Pakistan to be distributed among the Hajj pilgrims,” Imran Siddique, spokesperson for Ministry of Religious Affairs, told Arab News from Makkah.
He said that ample space has been allocated at all airports for storage of the holy water and “each pilgrim will get a five-liter Zamzam bottle on arrival without any hassle.”
Siddique said that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has already made arrangements for provision of the holy water to pilgrims at small airports as well including Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan and Quetta. Private airlines have also stocked Zamzam water at all the airports ahead of post Hajj arrival flight operations which will commence from August 17.
“All these arrangements have been made with cooperation of the Saudi government to facilitate our pilgrims,” Siddique said, adding that provision of hassle-free blessed water to Pakistani pilgrims is part of the Saudi’s “Al-Zamzami Al Sagheer” initiative.
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Zamazema Office has launched the project to provide the Zamzam water to pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom.
More than 200,000 Pakistanis have performed Hajj this year, while around 30,000 pilgrims flying from Islamabad international airport benefited from pre-departure immigration facility under the ‘Road to Makkah’ project.
The holy water for Muslims comes from the Zamzam well located in Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah and is believed in the Islamic faith to be a miraculously generated source of water from God.
Millions of pilgrims visit the well each year while performing Hajj and Umrah in order to drink from it and carry it home for family and friends.
Pakistan’s post-Hajj flight operation is scheduled to begin from Saturday with six flights landing at different airports of the country including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
“First Hajj flights carrying around 1500 to 1800 pilgrims back from Saudi Arabia will reach Pakistan tomorrow,” Siddique said, adding that the post-Hajj flight operation will continue till September 15.
Pakistani Hajj pilgrims to get Zamzam water upon arrival as part of Saudi initiative
Pakistani Hajj pilgrims to get Zamzam water upon arrival as part of Saudi initiative
- Each Hajj pilgrim will be handed over a five-liter Zamzam water bottle
- First Hajj flights carrying 1500 to 1800 Pakistan pilgrims will arrive tomorrow
Pakistan okays Bangladesh’s Biman to begin Dhaka-Karachi flights as ties warm up
- Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war
- Ties between both nations have warmed up since ouster of PM Sheikh Hasina, viewed as an India ally
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has granted Bangladesh’s national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, permission to begin flight operations between Dhaka and Karachi, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said on Friday, amid strengthening ties between the two countries.
Pakistan and Bangladesh used to be one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.
Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since the fall of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was widely viewed as close to India and critical of Pakistan, following a student-led uprising in August 2024.
Islamabad has attempted to forge closer ties with Dhaka in recent months after the two South Asian nations began sea trade in late 2024, which were followed by efforts to expand government-to-government commerce.
“Pakistan has granted Biman, the national flag carrier of Bangladesh, initial permission for three months up to March 26 to operate flights between Dhaka and Karachi,” a PCAA spokesperson told Arab News, adding that the duration could be extended.
The approval marks a significant step in restoring direct air connectivity between the two nations.
In Nov. last year, the now-privatized Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said it had signed a cargo agreement with Biman, aimed at streamlining air freight operations and boosting bilateral trade.
A PIA spokesperson said the agreement was part of PIA’s strategy to expand its cargo business and offer more competitive services to customers.
Pakistan has stepped up efforts to rebuild relations with Bangladesh as ties between Dhaka and New Delhi remain strained over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina after she fled the country.
In Feb. 2025, a cargo vessel sailed directly from Pakistan to Bangladesh for the first time in decades and successfully unloaded containers, port officials said.
The two countries signed six agreements last August, covering areas such as visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders, trade cooperation, media collaboration and cultural exchanges, officials said.
Separately, Islamabad allowed Britain’s Norse Atlantic to operate flights to the South Asian country, the Pakistani defense minister announced late Thursday. The airline will operate direct flights from London, Manchester and Birmingham to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.
“The increase in operations of international airlines to Pakistan will promote a competitive environment leading to world class service and balance in fares,” Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on X.
