Hajj flight operation under 'Road to Makkah' project commences. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
LAHORE: Four flights carrying more than 1,300 Hajj pilgrims took off from Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar to Saudi Arabia with a total of 78,000 pilgrims to be flown to the kingdom.
Prime Minister Imran Khan saw off pilgrims at Islamabad International Airport flying to Madina. PIA president and Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Malik thanked the premier for extending cooperation toward the national flag carrier.
Relief for pilgrims as 'Road to Makkah' opens
Federal Aviation Minister Sarwar Khan and Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri, station manager Pervez Nasir, deputy station manager Chaudhry Bashir and other top officials of PIA were also preset at the airport.
Khan said PM Imran played an important role by requesting the Saudi crown prince to get Pakistan included in the ‘Road to Makkah’ project to facilitate the pilgrims.
The first Hajj flight was awarded a farewell from Jinnah International Airport Karachi by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Federal Parliamentary Secretary Aftab Siddiqui, Chief Operating Officer Ijaz Mazhar, General Manager Flight Services Amir Bashir and station manager Ahmed Alam. The governor lauded the CEO and his team for making best arrangements for the pilgrims.
The Hajj flight from Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore was offered farewell by Adviser to PIA CEO Air Vice Marshal Noor Abbas along with district manager Umar Nawaz, station manager Ali Asghar Zaidi and senior officers.
In Peshawar, the Hajj pilgrims were bid farewell by the Minister for Information Shaukat Yousafzai, PIA Chief Security Officer and vigilance Air Commodore Shahid Qadir, regional manager Ibrahim Yusufzai, station manager Taimur Khan and the district team.
Hajj flights under 'Road to Makkah' project commence
PIA distributed umbrellas, travel kit and bags among the pilgrims.
PIA Hajj flights are departing from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan and Sukkur. The pre-Hajj operation of the national flag carrier will be completed on the August 5, while post-Hajj operation will commence on August 17 and end on September 14.
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