PIA announces pre-Hajj operation for this year pilgrim

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced its pre-Hajj operation for 2025, which will run from April 29 until June 1, 2025.

During the pre-Hajj operation, the national flag carriers will operate 280 special flights to Saudi Arabia, facilitating over 56,000 Pakistani pilgrims.

As per detail, around 20,000 pilgrims will travel under the government’s Hajj scheme this year, while 36,000 will travel under the private scheme, all via PIA flights.

Boeing 777 and Airbus 320 aircraft will be used to ensure a comfortable and organized journey for the pilgrims.

Following the culmination of Hajj, the national airline will start its post-Hajj operation on June 12, which will continue until July 10.

A coordinated flight system will be put in place to ensure smooth operations to bring back the returning pilgrims.

Officials have stated that special arrangements have been made to ensure that all flights are completed on time and safely and to provide every possible facility to prevent any inconvenience for the pilgrims.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the reduction in the private Hajj quota for this year, which was 70,000 pilgrims, leaving thousands of Pakistanis unable to perform Hajj under the private scheme.

The PM directed an immediate inquiry into the matter and established a three-member committee tasked with identifying the responsible parties within three days.

The three-member committee, headed by federal secretary for Cabinet Division Kamran Afzal, comprises Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Chaudhary Rashid Mahmood Langrial and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chief Secretary Abrar Ahmad Mirza and will present its report to the PM in three days.