Latest news with #PK-713
Business Recorder
30-04-2025
- Business Recorder
Operation for 2025 commences: First Hajj flight departs from Islamabad
KARACHI: Pakistan's Hajj operation for 2025 officially commenced as the first flight carrying pilgrims departed from Islamabad International Airport to Madinah early Tuesday morning. The PIA Flight PK-713 took off at 4:45 AM with 442 pilgrims on board, marking the beginning of this year's Hajj pilgrimage operations. The pilgrims were seen off by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousuf, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Al-Malki, and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, who presented special gifts to the departing pilgrims. Later, the first Hajj flight from Quetta, PK-7201 also departed at 10:00 AM carrying 170 pilgrims. Meanwhile, Lahore's first Hajj flight, PK-747, took off at 10:00 PM with 323 passengers bound for Madinah. PIA spokesman said that PIA would transport approximately 35,200 government-quota pilgrims to Saudi Arabia through more than 117 special flights. In the initial phase, special flights will carry pilgrims from Pakistan to Madinah, while in the second phase flights will be directed to Jeddah. 'The national carrier will operate direct Hajj flights from six major Pakistani cities: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, and Quetta,' PIA spokesman said. At Islamabad and Karachi airports, 'Road to Makkah' facilities have been established in collaboration with the Saudi government, allowing pilgrims to complete Saudi immigration procedures before leaving Pakistan. PIA's pre-Hajj operation will continue until May 31, while the post-Hajj operation will begin on June 10 and conclude on July 10, 2025. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
29-04-2025
- Arab News
Three flights depart from Islamabad, Lahore and Quetta as Pakistan begins month-long Hajj operation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan kicked off its 33-day-long Hajj flight operation on Tuesday, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said, with three flights departing from Islamabad, Lahore and Quetta for the Saudi city of Madinah. Over 89,000 pilgrims will travel under the government's scheme during Pakistan's Hajj flight operations. They will travel to Makkah and Madinah via 342 flights in total, with the last one departing from Pakistan on May 31. The first Hajj flight for this year, Pakistan International Airlines' PK-713, departed under the Route to Makkah Initiative from Islamabad at 4:45am, carrying 442 pilgrims. The second flight left the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore at 8:30am with, 147 pilgrims aboard, according to the PAA. The third flight left Quetta for Madinah at around 10:10am, carrying 151 pilgrims. Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki bid farewell to the pilgrims in Islamabad. Yousaf advised Pakistani pilgrims to strictly adhere to Saudi Arabia's laws and respect the local culture during the annual Islamic pilgrimage and said he would 'soon' travel to Saudi Arabia to review Hajj arrangements. 'As Hajj pilgrims, you are traveling to the sacred land as the guests of Allah and ambassadors of Pakistan, and you are urged to respect the laws and culture of Saudi Arabia,' the minister said in a televised address. 'I will take every possible measure to resolve the issues faced by Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and will personally be among them to provide facilities.' The Makkah Route Initiative is designed to streamline immigration processes by enabling pilgrims to complete official travel formalities at their departure airports. Initially tested in Islamabad in 2019, the program was later expanded to Karachi, benefitting tens of thousands of Pakistani travelers. This saves pilgrims several hours upon arrival in the Kingdom, as they can simply enter the country without having to go through immigration again. Around 50,500 Pakistani pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia under the initiative this year. The scheme was launched in 2019 by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and has been implemented in five countries: Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco and Bangladesh. A total of 28,400 pilgrims will leave for Saudi Arabia through 100 flights from the Islamabad airport, Pakistan's religious affairs ministry said. Seven special immigration counters have been set up at the Islamabad airport to facilitate pilgrims under the Makkah Route Initiative. The remaining 22,500 pilgrims will avail the scheme at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. This year's annual pilgrimage will take place in June. Punjab Minister for Specialized Healthcare Khawaja Salman Rafique and Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhail attended departure ceremonies in Lahore and Quetta, respectively. Rafique appreciated efforts of the PAA and all concerned departments in ensuring a smooth conduct of Hajj operations and extended his heartfelt wishes to the pilgrims for a safe and peaceful journey. Balochistan Director Hajj Ilyas Jaffar and representatives of other agencies were present alongside Balochistan Governor Mandokhail at the departure ceremony in Quetta. 'The Honourable governor and other dignitaries requested special prayers for the prosperity of Pakistan and the continued success of all institutions,' the PAA said.
Business Recorder
29-04-2025
- Business Recorder
First Hajj flight with 442 pilgrims departs from Islamabad
The first flight carrying Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia commenced on Tuesday with PIA flight PK-713 departing from Islamabad International Airport for Madinah. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Al-Malki, and PIA CEO Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat bid farewell to the 442 pilgrims. Moreover, the first Hajj flight from Quetta, PK-7201, also departed at 10:AM carrying 170 pilgrims. Likewise, the first Hajj flight from Lahore, PK-747, will depart for Madinah at 10:PM carrying 323 passengers. PIA will operate direct Hajj flights from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, and Quetta and will transport approximately 35,200 government-sponsored pilgrims to the Holy Land through more than 117 special flights. PIA's pre-Hajj operation will continue until May 31, while the post-Hajj operation will begin on June 10 and conclude on July 10. Meanwhile, Saudi officials responsible for facilitating Hajj travel arrangements arrived at Jinnah International Airport on Monday. The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said the delegation will operate eight counters at Jinnah International Airport to process Hajj pilgrims. Under the government Hajj scheme, 89,000 pilgrims will be transported to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah through 342 flights. During the first 15 days of the operation, pilgrims will be flown directly to Madinah. The hajj flight operation will continue for 33 days. The last Hajj flight from Pakistan will depart on May 31.
Arab News
29-04-2025
- Arab News
Pakistan begins Hajj flight operations as 442 pilgrims depart from Islamabad under Makkah Route Initiative
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan kicked off its Hajj flight operations on Tuesday morning with the first batch of 442 pilgrims departing from Islamabad for Madinah under the Makkah Route Initiative, the country's national airline said in a statement. Over 89,000 pilgrims will travel under the government's scheme during Pakistan's 33-day-long Hajj flight operations. Pilgrims will travel to Makkah and Madinah via 342 flights in total, with the last one departing from Pakistan on May 31. 'The first Hajj flight for this year, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-713 carrying 442 pilgrims, departed under the Route to Makkah scheme from Islamabad International Airport today (Tuesday) at 4:45 am,' a PIA spokesperson said. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki bid farewell to the pilgrims at the airport. The Makkah Route Initiative is designed to streamline immigration processes by enabling pilgrims to complete official travel formalities at their departure airports. Initially tested in Islamabad in 2019, the program was later expanded to Karachi, benefitting tens of thousands of Pakistani travelers. This saves pilgrims several hours upon arrival in the Kingdom, as they can simply enter the country without having to go through immigration again. Around 50,500 Pakistani pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia under the initiative this year. The scheme was launched in 2019 by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and has been implemented in five countries: Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco and Bangladesh. A total of 28,400 pilgrims will leave for Saudi Arabia through 100 flights from the Islamabad airport, Pakistan's religious affairs ministry said. Seven special immigration counters have been set up at the Islamabad airport to facilitate pilgrims under the Makkah Route Initiative. The remaining 22,500 pilgrims will avail the scheme at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. Yousaf advised Pakistani pilgrims to strictly adhere to Saudi Arabia's laws and respect the local culture during the annual Islamic pilgrimage. 'As Hajj pilgrims, you are traveling to the sacred land as the guests of Allah and ambassadors of Pakistan, and you are urged to respect the laws and culture of Saudi Arabia,' the minister said in a televised address, as he bid farewell to the pilgrims. Yousaf said he would 'soon' travel to Saudi Arabia to review Hajj arrangements. 'I will take every possible measure to resolve the issues faced by Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and will personally be among them to provide facilities,' he added. Yousaf said the government was striving to extend the Makkah Route Initiative facilities to more Pakistani cities in the future. 'I am thankful to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, for the excellent arrangements,' he added. Yousaf said each pilgrim was provided a mobile SIM card that contains an application, which can be used to guide pilgrims with directions in case they lose their way in Mina. Meanwhile, the second Hajj flight of the day departed from Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, carrying 150 pilgrims to Madinah at 8:00 am via AirSial airline's flight PF-7700. Six flights are scheduled to depart from Pakistan for the Kingdom on Tuesday: two from Lahore and one each from Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta and Multan. This year's annual pilgrimage will take place in June, with nearly 89,000 Pakistanis expected to travel to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme and over 23,620 Pakistanis expected to perform Hajj through private tour operators.
