ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has reduced fares for its flights from Karachi to the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Madinah by 30 percent, a PIA spokesperson said on Monday.
After the reduction, a one-way ticket from Karachi to Jeddah or Madinah will cost Rs56,000 ($201), including tax, according to the PIA spokesperson.
A return ticket from Karachi to any of the two Saudi cities will cost Rs88,000 ($316), inclusive of tax. The new fares have already taken effect.
“Discounted fare tickets can be issued till August 31,” the spokesperson said. “Travel on discounted fare is limited till September 30.”
The announcement comes amid an ongoing Umrah season, which began in July. Umrah is a voluntary Islamic pilgrimage to the Islamic sites in Saudi Arabia. A shorter version of the Hajj, it is voluntary and can be performed throughout the year.
Thousands of Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia each month to visit the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah for the Umrah pilgrimage.
Last month, Pakistan’s national flag carrier announced direct Umrah flights to Jeddah from the Pakistani cities of Quetta and Faisalabad in a bid to facilitate pilgrims. The flights began on August 6.
PIA reduces fares for Karachi to Jeddah and Madinah flights by 30 percent
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PIA reduces fares for Karachi to Jeddah and Madinah flights by 30 percent
- The announcement comes amid an ongoing Umrah pilgrimage season which began in July
- Thousands of Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia each month to perform the Umrah pilgrimage
Sri Lanka seal gritty T20 win over Pakistan to level series
- In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka scored 160 runs before choking Pakistan to 146-8
- The series saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game
Dambulla: Sri Lanka eked out a hard fought 14-run victory over Pakistan in the third T20 at rain-hit Dambulla on Sunday, easing their batting jitters and squaring the three-match series 1-1.
The series, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup with Pakistan set to play all their matches in Sri Lanka due to political tensions with nuclear-armed neighbors India, saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game.
“We were a bit worried about our batting and I’m glad we addressed that today,” said Wanindu Hasaranga, who walked away with both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honors.
“The bowlers did a good job too. The ball was wet and it wasn’t easy. We tried to bowl wide and slow and asked them to take risks.”
Hasaranga took four wickets in the game and in the process completed 150 wickets in T20Is.
In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka muscled their way to a competitive 160 before choking Pakistan to 146-8.
Having been bowled out inside 20 overs in the series opener, Sri Lanka needed a statement with the bat and duly ticked every box after being put in.
The top order laid the platform and the middle order applied the finishing touches.
Wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis made hay under the Power Play, blasting 30 off 16 balls while Dhananjaya de Silva (22 off 15) and Charith Asalanka (21 off 13) kept the scoreboard ticking.
Skipper Dasun Shanaka then swung the momentum decisively, clubbing 34 off just nine deliveries, peppered with five towering sixes.
The sixth-wicket stand between Shanaka and Janith Liyanage produced 52 runs in just 15 balls and proved the turning point, shifting the game firmly Sri Lanka’s way.
Pakistan came out swinging in reply, racing to 50 in just 19 balls with captain Salman Agha hammering 45 off 12 balls, including five fours and three sixes.
But once the field spread, Sri Lanka tightened the screws, applied the choke and forced the asking rate to spiral.
“It was a good game of cricket,” Agha said.
“We conceded too many runs, but our batting effort was good. Unfortunately, we fell short. We know we are going to play all our World Cup games in Sri Lanka and it’s important that we played in similar conditions,” he added.
