KARACHI: The Indian government has refused a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) request for landing at Jaipur International Airport aimed at facilitating Hindu pilgrims travelling between Karachi and Jaipur.

According to sources privy to the matter, the PIA has sought permission from the Indian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to allow a special flight from Karachi to Jaipur carrying Hindu pilgrims on January 29.The special PIA flight was arranged on the request of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) for visit to religious sites and according to sources, the flight had to carry 160 pilgrims from Karachi to Lahore on Saturday morning and then to Jaipur.

“The flight had to land at Jaipur airport at 12:00 noon on Saturday,” They said and added that however, the PIA was not given permission to plan the flight.

The PIA officials have confirmed that the Indian government has refused PIA’s request to land at Jaipur airport. “Last month, the Indian government also denied permission to a PIA flight to land at New Delhi airport,” they said.