JEDDAH, 30 March 2004 — The initiative taken by Air-India’s Western Province Manager S.M. Mazharullah to introduce nonstop flights from Jeddah to Lucknow were put on record at a community farewell reception held in his honor at Trident Hotel over the weekend.

Indian Consul General Syed Akbaruddin, who presided, appreciated the efforts of Mohammad Moin Khan, the event organizer, for his campaign for several years for a direct service to the Uttar Pradesh capital. He recalled an incident when Khan had requested Vasundhara Raje, then a federal minister, during her visit here to consider introducing a direct service to the north Indian city. Raje said in a lighter vein that he should make a request to the city’s parliamentary representative — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

“Mazharullah will be remembered by the community for his services,” said Khan.

Mazharullah thanked the community for the cooperation given to him during his term here and said the community should forward its grievances and problems vis-a-vis Air-India to its management and they would all be attended to. Farzan Rizvi said the community was pleased to note that the national carrier had introduced a third direct flight to Lucknow now. IISJ English teacher Tasneem Khan compered the program.