PIA to begin Hajj flights from May 21

Dhaka: Pakistan International Airlines announced to start its pre-Hajj operation from May 21 and conclude on August 12.

According to a circular issued by the PIA, the national flag carrier would transport 38,000 pilgrims from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia during the operation.

“Pre-Hajj operation will commence from 1st Zilqad till 4th Zilhajj, 1444 corresponding to Gregorian date May 21 till June 22, 2023 (subject to moon sighting),” it added.

The national flag carrier has decided to charge fares in US dollars for the second consecutive year and fixed the fares for pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia under the private Hajj scheme from USD 870 to USD 1180 for the southern region that includes Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur, Hyderabad.

This development comes after the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, according to sources, decided to allocate a 50 per cent special quota in the Government Hajj Scheme-2023 for the pilgrims who will pay in US dollars.

The decision was taken in view of an acute shortage of the greenback in the country whose forex reserves have been reduced to dangerous levels.

On the other hand, the airfares for the pilgrims from the northern region were in the range of USD 910 to USD1,220. The northern sector includes Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, and other cities.

The cost of a complete government Hajj scheme-based pilgrimage would be PRS 1.25 million.

According to an estimate, PIA was expected to fly 38,000 pilgrims to Hajj 2023, Saudi Airlines 44,000, while the rest would take flights from two Pakistan-based private airlines to travel to Saudi Arabia.

PIA will use Boeing 777 and Airbus 320 for its Hajj flight operations to Jeddah and Madinah, according to reports.