Holy rite: 315 pilgrims leave for Jeddah from Lahore

Special Hajj information desks had been set up at airports, says PIA managing director

LAHORE: Pakistan International Airline’s Pre-Hajj Operation 2014 began on Thursday.

The first batch of pilgrims was seen off at Allama Iqbal International Airport by Aviation Secretary and PIA Chairman Ali Gardezi.

The first flight PK2,001 carrying 300 pilgrims left for Jeddah from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi at 7am. Flight PK2,201 carrying 315 pilgrims took off from Lahore at 8am.

Rehman said Hajj information desks had been set up at airports and PIA scouts had been deputed to assist the pilgrims. Leaflets carrying information regarding baggage allowance, excess baggage and change of itinerary had been disseminated in Hajj camps, PIA ticketing offices and the airline’s travel agents. He said PIA was conducting Hajj operations with its own fleet of Boeing 747 and Boeing 777 aircraft.

Hajj flights will leave from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan and Sialkot.

Flights PK2,203, PK2,601 and PK2,501 will leave from Islamabad, Quetta and Peshawar, respectively, on August 29. This year, the PIA will transport 54,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia; 43,000 pilgrims will travel on 112 Hajj flights and 11,000 will be accommodated on regulation flights.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2014.