PIA’s post-Hajj operation begins, first flight lands at Karachi airport

KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) post-Haj operation to bring back Hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia began today, ARY News reported.

According to the details, PIA’s first post-Hajj flight PK-8702 with 166 pilgrims on board landed at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi today. The flight was departed from Jeddah airport.

Sources said that the post-Hajj flight operation will continue for a month to bring back over 200,000 Pakistani pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.

The hujjaj were given a warm welcome upon arrival at the airport by the officials of Ministry of Religious Affairs and PIA.

Read More: Hajj rituals conclude in Makkah

Earlier in the day, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony’s spokesperson had said that three airlines including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would participate in the flight operation in 10 cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad, Sukkur and Sialkot. The flight operation would continue till September 15.

The ministry had offered optimum facilities to pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia. A total of 187 ministry officials, 469 medical mission, 545 Pakistan Muavineen-e-Hujjaj belonging to Police and Scouts and 900 local Muavineen-e-Hujjaj were deployed to facilitate the pilgrims during hajj-2019.