PESHAWAR: Four international Airlines including Pakistan International Airline, Saudi Airline, Shaheen Air Blue and Air Blue would start Hajj operation from August 4 and would take pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for performing Hajj via 68 flights.
In a meeting held here to review arrangements for pre-Hajj operations and facilities to be extended to pilgrims, Airport Manager Tahir Sikandar said that the Hajj operation would start from August 4 and to be completed by September 5.
He said that first special flights of Air Blue would take 218 pilgrims from Bacha Khan International Airport to Madina, Saudi Arabia at 1:30 pm, while Shaheen Airline would take the pilgrims on the same day at 10:30 pm and PIA would start its first Hajj flight from August 5 at 2:15 pm. Similarly, special flight of Saudi Airline would start the Hajj operation from August 6, at 5:00 pm.
He said the relatives would not be allowed to see off the pilgrims at airport lounge due to construction work on Bacha Khan International Airport.
Director Hajj Shakeel Ahmed Sethi said that all pilgrims would be vaccinated against polio at Haji Camp in Hayatabad.
Superintendent of Traffic Police informed the meeting that more traffic personnel would be deployed from the last year for the facilitation of pilgrims as well as the general public.
The meeting was chaired by Manager Bacha Khan International Airport (BKIA) Peshawar Tahir Sikandar while Chief Security Officer BKIA Shadnawa Khattak, Deputy Airport Manager Shabir Ahmed, Joint Director Sayed Latiful Haq, Director Hajj Shakil Ahmed Sethi, Hajj Officer of CCA Khan Bahadar, officials of district administration, police, traffic police, PID, Custom, Anti Narcotics Force, Health Department, PIA and private airlines. The meeting expressed satisfaction over post Hajj operation.
