PIA's first pre Haj flight from Karachi left on November 1, 2008 with 457 pilgrims on board, signalling the beginning of the national airline's massive Haj operation to Saudi Arabia from Karachi.
In all 310 flights have been scheduled by the airline to uplift approximately 132,153 intending Haj pilgrims. PIA will operate 48 Haj flights directly for Madinah, 16 flights from Karachi, 16 from Lahore and 16 from Islamabad. Approximately 7,000 Haj pilgrims will be transported by PIA's schedule flights. Managing Director PIA, Captain Mohammad Aijaz Haroon, Senior PIA officials, Regional Director South CAA, Mohammad Hanif Khan Orakzai among other officials were present to see them off at Karachi Airport.
The pre-Haj operation entails a total of 83 flights from Karachi carrying 38,844 pilgrims and 74 flights from Lahore, transporting 34,632 intending pilgrims.
Similarly, PIA will be carrying 28,080 pilgrims from Islamabad on 60 flights, 20,398 pilgrims on 62 flights from Peshawar and another 10,199 pilgrims from Quetta on 31 Haj flights. Pilgrims from Multan, Faisalabad and Sukkur are being transported by PIA to Karachi for onward travel to Jeddah.
The pre Haj operation will complete on December 2, 2008 while the post Haj operation will commence on December 12, 2008 and conclude on January 11, 2009.
For the convenience of the pilgrims, PIA has made special arrangements to provide complimentary Haj books, Ahrams to male Hajis and Abayas with scarf to female Hajis before departure at Haji camps. PIA will also provide 10-litre cans of Abe Zam Zam (free of cost) this year to Hajis on arrival to Pakistan.-PR