Karachi, July 05, 2019 (PPI-OT): PIA’s Pre-hajj operation of transporting more than 78,000 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, commenced on Friday. Four PIA Pre-Hajj flights departed for Saudi Arabia transporting more than 1,300 intending pilgrims from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar airports on the first day of Pre- Hajj flight departures.
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan visited the New Islamabad Airport and met the intending pilgrims of PIA’s first Pre-Hajj flight from Islamabad. CEO PIA, Air Marshal Arshad Malik who is also supervising the Hajj operation has thanked the Prime Minister for his cooperation and support for PIA. Federal Minister for Aviation, Sarwar Khan and Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Noor Ul Haq Qadri along with PIA officials were also present at Islamabad Airport.
The Intending pilgrims of PIA’s first Pre-Hajj flight from Karachi were seen off by Governor Sindh, Mr. Imran Ismail, Chief Operating Officer PIA, Mr. Aijaz Mazhar, PIA Station manager Mr. Ahmed Alam and senior officials of the airline. Governor Sindh praised the excellent arrangements for Hajj flights and also for bringing improvements in PIA under the leadership of Air Marshal Arshad Malik. Aftab Siddiqui Federal Parliamentary Secretary was also present at the occasion.
At Lahore airport, pilgrims were seen off by Air Vice Marshal Noor Abbas, Advisor to CEO PIA, District Manager PIA Lahore Mr. Guraya and officials of PIA. While the intending pilgrims at Peshawar Airport were seen off by Chief Minister KPK Mr. Mahmood Khan and Air Commodore Shahid Qadir Chief of Security and Vigilance PIA and PIA officials.
PIA’s on time departures were witnessed at all airports while PIA made special arrangements for intending pilgrims and distributed reading material, umbrellas, travel kits and hand bags to intending pilgrims before departure of Hajj flights.
The Hajj flights will operate from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Sialkot, Multan, Faisalabad, Quetta, Rahim Yar Khan and Sukkur. The airlines Pre Hajj operation will conclude on 5th August 2019. The Post Hajj operating of bringing back the Hujjaj from Saudi Arabia will commence from 17th August and conclude on 14th September 2019.
For more information, contact:
General Manager
Public Affairs
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
PIA Head Office Airport
Karachi
Tel: +92-21-99043823
Fax: +92-21-34572225, +92-21-34570419
Cell: +92-322-7420707
Website: www.piac.com.pk