BKIA: First Hajj flight to leave on Aug 18

According to PIA Peshawar, the national carrier will transport as many as 52,711 pilgrims, including 10,099 from K-P

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan International Airlines has finalised arrangements for its Hajj operations from Bacha Khan International Airport Peshawar. The first Hajj flight carrying pilgrims from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas will leave for Jeddah on August 18.

According to a PIA Peshawar region official, the national carrier will transport as many as 52,711 pilgrims, including 10,099 from K-P and Federally Administered Tribal Areas, to Saudi Arabia. He said the operation comprises 167 flights. In all, 31 flights will run from BKIA as part of the arrangement.

He said in order to drum up efforts, a meeting of all relevant officials was going to be called after Eidul Fitr. The regional official added the Hajj directorate was also planning on reopening the Hajj Complex in Hayatabad after the end of Ramazan.

In light of recent revisions, PIA has fixed a fare of Rs98,700 for the return flight for pilgrims from the northern region, including Peshawar. Hajj flights have also been arranged from other airports of the country. At Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, Karachi, the operation will officially begin on August 17.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2015.