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PIA Haj

operations from

February 13

KARACHI: PIA's massive Haj operation involving airlifting of about 90,000 intending pilgrims on 306 flights starts from eight different stations from February 13.

The first flight will take off from Islamabad carrying 468 pilgrims to Jeddah on February 13.

According to PIA sources here on Sunday, two more flights with 1,845 pilgrims on board and a flight from Faisalabad with 280 pilgrims will also take off on the same day.

PIA said that the second flight will leave for Jeddah from Karachi with 468 pilgrims, from Multan with 115 pilgrims, from Peshawar with 280 pilgrims and from Sukkur with 80 pilgrims on February 14.

Of the total pilgrims to be airlifted during the 26-day operation, a total 14,766 pilgrims will be flown through 32 flights from Islamabad, 20,168 through 61 flights from Karachi, 20,828 through 46 flights from Lahore, 6,785 through 59 flights from Multan, 12,600 through 55 flights from Peshawar, 5,320 through 19 flights from Quetta 1,280 through 16 flights from Sukkur and 7,840 through 28 flights from Faisalabad. Thus the PIA will be operating a total of 306 flights to ferry 89,587 pilgrims to Jeddah.

The first Haj flight from Quetta with 280 pilgrims will leave on February 21.

The PIA's post-Haj operation will start from March 20 with first flight carrying 468 pilgrims landing Islamabad on the same day. Another flight with 468 Hujjaj to land at Karachi on March 20 and 120 at Multan, 280 at Peshawar, 280 at Faisalabad and 80 at Sukkur on March 20.

In the post-Haj operation also the PIA will operates with same number of 306 Haj flights to bring back the Hujjaj from the holy land.

This year a total of 105,000 pilgrims will be flown to the holy land and 15,000 will be flown to Jeddah by Saudi Airlines.ÑAPP