Returning home: First batch of pilgrims arrive at Peshawar airport

Public overcrowded airport despite CAA’s request

PESHAWAR: At least three flights, including those of Shaheen Air International, Pakistan International Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines — arrived at Bacha Khan International Airport (BKIA) with over 900 pilgrims. Hundreds of people also arrived at the facility to receive their relatives.

Although Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had requested locals to not overcrowd the airport when the pilgrims return after performing Hajj, a large number of vehicles, mostly parked outside the facility, caused traffic chaos and created immense problems for CAA and traffic officials.

Clogging road

A huge long of vehicles waiting to park inside the facility could be seen, while over a dozen violated traffic rules. Most car drivers took the one-way route which alarmed traffic wardens since those leaving the airport could not exit due to the traffic gridlock.

The traffic police officials refused to comment on the issue, saying they were not in a position to speak to the media. They seemed annoyed over violation of traffic rules and that too on an occasion when traffic wardens wanted to keep traffic moving smoothly so that the pilgrims could reach homes sans hassle.

Inconvenience

Besides pilgrims, a routine flight was also scheduled for Jeddah. However the passengers, who were supposed to be dropped at the facility, had to walk for over a mile with luggage on their shoulders.

“This is what we feared and I don’t know why these people arrive at the facility,” a senior official of CAA said. “We fear suffocation and sometimes parents fail to keep a check on their children due to which announcements have to be made.”

All the three airlines with pilgrims on board from Saudi Arabia reached late. However, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Shaheen Air International had informed CAA Peshawar on September 16 that their flights will be delayed.

“Both Saudi and Shaheen airlines gave us prior information but PIA’s flight was delayed as usual and the officials concerned did not inform us that the flight will be delayed,” an official, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune.

Flights, passengers

Shaheen Air International’s flight landed at BKIA around 2pm with at least 314 pilgrims. PIA’s had 328 pilgrims on board. The plane was scheduled to land at BKIA around 2:55pm, but the flight was delayed and the plane landed at the facility at around 3:45pm. Saudi Arabian Airlines’ flight was scheduled to arrive at BKIA at 12:50pm with at least 320 pilgrims on board, but was delayed until 4pm.

Among 25,300 pilgrims, some 14,000 pilgrims performed Hajj as per the government’s quota, while the rest were on the quota allocated to private tour operators.

Around 48 flights (on government’s quota) will be carrying pilgrims back home, besides some other flights by private airlines.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2016.