PIA completes pre-Haj operation after transporting over 53,000 pilgrims

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines has concluded its pre-Haj flight operation, transporting more than 53,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia through 210 flights, according to a PIA spokesperson.

The spokesperson said the airline completed the operation on Thursday and reported a 97 per cent success rate, adding that more than 97pc of flights departed on time. According to the spokesperson, this performance was 7pc above the target set for the operation.

Flights operated from seven cities

During the pre-Haj phase, direct flights were operated from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Quetta. The airline had formally launched its pre-Hajj operation on April 19.

PIA had been scheduled to carry 49,000 pilgrims travelling under the government scheme, while more than 6,000 pilgrims travelling through private Haj group organisers were also facilitated on its flights.

Post-Haj operation to begin on May 30

The spokesperson said the post-Haj operation will start on May 30 and continue until June 30. PIA has also completed the required preparations for the return operation, the spokesperson added.

The Haj flight schedule is part of Pakistan’s wider annual arrangements for pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia. This year’s operation also included facilitation under the Route to Makkah initiative, under which immigration procedures were provided through modern systems to make travel easier for pilgrims.

Route to Makkah expanded to Lahore

According to an earlier report by Radio Pakistan, the Route to Makkah project was expanded this year to Lahore in addition to Karachi and Islamabad. The facility was expected to benefit more than 95,000 pilgrims.

The expansion of the initiative meant that pilgrims departing from three major cities could complete immigration-related formalities before leaving Pakistan, as part of efforts to streamline the Haj travel process.

With the outbound phase now complete, attention will shift to the post-Haj operation later this month, when the airline is due to begin bringing pilgrims back from Saudi Arabia under the next phase of the annual exercise.