Hajj 2022: PIA issues flight schedule for Karachi

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will begin pre-Hajj operation flights from Jinnah International Airport Karachi on June 8, ARY News reported on Monday.

PIA flight PK-743 with 743 pilgrims will leave for Madina from Karachi on Wednesday, according to the PIA spokesperson. The national flag carrier will use Boeing 777 aircraft for pre-Hajj operations from Karachi, he said.

In this connection, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has completed all arrangements at Jinnah airport for the Hajj 2022 operations.

Meanwhile, separate immigration counters have been set up at Karachi airport for pilgrims, according to CAA spokesperson.

It is pertinent to mention here that the first flight of the Hajj operation under the ‘Road to Makkah’ initiative departed from New Islamabad Airport in the wee hours of Monday.

The first flight of the Hajj operation under the government scheme departed from Islamabad at 03:30 am.

Meanwhile, a private airline flight carrying 220 intending pilgrims also left Allama Iqbal International Airport for Madina on Sunday night. Punjab Governor Baligh-ur-Rehman bade farewell to the pilgrims at the Lahore airport.

According to spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, 32,000 pilgrims will be flown to Saudi Arabia through 106 Hajj flights.

The spokesperson said 42 flights will be operated from Islamabad under Road to Makkah project.

Hajj pilgrims are also being informed about the flights through the website and SMS on their mobile numbers.

The religious ministry has urged all Hajj pilgrims not to enter the premises of Riaz-ul-Jannah without prior permission from Saudi authorities.