Hajj flights to begin from September 30

PESHAWAR: Hajj flights from Peshawar International Airport will start from September 30. There will be total 91 special flights, including 66 of Pakistan International Airline (PIA), 12 Saudi Airlines and 13 of Shaheen International.

The first Hajj flight will depart on Friday at 8:30 pm for Saudi Arabia.

This year a total of 28,000 pilgrims will leave through Peshawar Airport out of which 3,182 and 3,120 will travel through Saudi Airlines and Shaheen International respectively. The remaining pilgrims will travel through PIA flights.

Like past the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Airport Security Force (ASF), health department, customs, anti-narcotics and Directorate of Hajj have finalized the arrangements so that pilgrims do not face any difficulty. All the intending pilgrims have been directed to follow the directives of e Ministry of Religious Affairs and reached Haji camps at specified time.

The Hajj pilgrims have been directed to tie Ihram at Haji camp, from where they will be brought to the airport through buses. Screening of their luggage will be made at the airport for which customs, anti-narcotics and airport security force have established separate screening points. Special sitting arrangements have been made for the pilgrims at the airport lounges. Special arrangements have been made for provision of medical, telephone, and ablution facilities to the pilgrims.

Keeping in view security concerns, the entry of relatives and families of pilgrims in the airport has been banned. The people have been requested to refrain from creating unnecessary rush at the airport.