ISLAMABAD: Air Marshal Arshad Malik, President and CEO of Pakistan’s national carrier, on Friday called Hajj flight operations a “success,” saying Pakistan International Airlines was making “all-efforts” to ensure that pilgrims returned home on time.
Over 200,000 Pakistanis performed Hajj this year, according to figures from the Pakistani religious affairs ministry. Post-Hajj flight operations to bring the pilgrims home commenced on August 17 in Jeddah and will continue until September 15.
“He [PIA CEO] termed the ongoing Hajj operation a success with almost 90 percent efficiency achieved in the pre-Hajj flight operation,” the finance ministry said in a statement released on Friday, adding that similar results were expected in post-Hajj flight operations “for which all-out efforts were made to bring back the pilgrims as per schedule.”
Saudi Arabia extended its flagship “Road to Makkah” project to Pakistan during a February visit to Islamabad by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, after which it was announced that all pilgrims traveling from Pakistan would be able to clear immigration at local airports in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar. Malaysia and Indonesia are also part of the project.
Pakistani nationals constitute the third largest group, after Saudis and Indonesians, to perform Hajj each year.
“All-out efforts” being made to bring Pakistani Hajjis home on schedule — PIA CEO
“All-out efforts” being made to bring Pakistani Hajjis home on schedule — PIA CEO
- Calls Hajj operations a success, says 90 percent efficiency achieved in pre-Hajj flights
- Around 200,000 Pakistanis performed Hajj this year, post-hajj flights to continue until Sept 15
Pakistan’s Sharif hails Trump as ‘man of peace’ at inaugural Gaza board meeting
- Shehbaz Sharif says calls for end to Israeli ceasefire violations in Gaza and ‘credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination’
- Islamabad hopes involvement in Gaza peace board will allow it to shape post-war arrangements while protecting Palestinian rights
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday hailed President Donald Trump as a “man of peace” as he attended an inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace in Washington.
The board, formed under a UN Security Council resolution following a fragile October 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, is intended to oversee international stabilization and rebuilding efforts in Gaza after Israeli war.
Pakistan’s premier called for an end to ceasefire violations by Israel to achieve long-lasting peace and to advance reconstruction efforts in Gaza, praising Trump for his efforts to bring about peace in various parts of the world.
“Your timely and very effective intervention to achieve ceasefire between India and Pakistan potentially averted loss of tens of millions of people,” Sharif said, addressing Trump at the meeting.
“You have truly proved to be a man of peace and let me say Mr. president you are truly savior of South Asia.”
In the past, Sharif has gained favor with Trump for publicly praising him for helping broker a ceasefire between Pakistan and India following their intense, four-day military conflict in May, while Islamabad also formally endorsed the US president for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Speaking at the meeting, the Pakistan premier said the people of Palestine must exercise “full control of their land and future” in line with the UN Security Council’s resolutions.
“The people of Palestine have long endured illegal occupation and immense suffering. And to achieve long lasting peace, it is very important that ceasefire violations must end to preserve lives and advance reconstruction efforts,” he said.
“The people of Palestine must exercise full control of the land and their future, in line with UN Security Council resolutions. Mr. president, we must work together toward a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination through the establishment of an independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine, in line with the relevant resolutions.”
Earlier, Trump also spoke at the gathering and praised Sharif as well as Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Pakistan formally joined the Board of Peace last month after Sharif signed its charter alongside other world leaders in Davos. The forum includes an eight-nation Muslim bloc comprising Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Islamabad hopes involvement in the forum will allow it to shape post-war governance arrangements while protecting Palestinian political rights.
Separately, Sharif met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who appreciated Pakistan’s ongoing support of Trump’s peace plan for Gaza and for joining the Board of Peace.
“In our meeting, we discussed the importance of our strategic relationship on critical minerals development and counterterrorism,” Rubio said on X.
Sharif also held informal meetings in Washington with global leaders who arrived to attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace.
The prime minister met informally with the Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
“Important global and regional matters were discussed during the meetings,” Sharif’s office said.
