KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will begin its pre-Hajj flight operation on Sunday, an airline spokesman said.
Pakistan launched its pre-Hajj operation as the first flight, PF-7700 by AirSial, departed from Karachi to Madinah with 160 pilgrims aboard, according to the Sindh Directorate of Hajj.
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage. Of these, around 118,000 seats have been allocated to the government scheme and the rest to private tour operators.
PIA plans to transport more than 55,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims to the Kingdom through 191 flights, according to the airline spokesman. Of them, 49,000 pilgrims will travel under the government scheme.
“The first flight of the Hajj operation, PK 747, will depart from Sialkot for Madinah at 01:55 on April 19 carrying more than 390 pilgrims,” the PIA spokesman said.
“Direct flights will be operated from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Quetta for the Hajj operation.”
PIA will transport more than 15,400 pilgrims through 46 flights from Islamabad under the pre-Hajj operation, according to the airline.
Over 15,000 pilgrims will be transported from Karachi through 55 flights, 12,377 from Lahore through 34 flights, 3,680 through 23 flights from Faisalabad, 5,383 through 13 flights from Multan, 2,075 through 5 flights from Sialkot and 4,487 through 15 pre-Hajj flights from Quetta.
“Necessary steps have been taken to serve the pilgrims,” the spokesperson said. “PIA’s pre-Hajj operation will conclude on May 21.”
