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PIA's Hajj operation takes off todayKARACHI: PIA's first Hajj flight PK 2601 to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will depart today (Wednesday September 19) from Peshawar (ETD) 15:30 hours and PK 2501 will depart from Islamabad (ETD) 18:10 hours.
An announcement to this effect was made by the PIA spokesman in a statement here.
He said that every endeavor will be made to ensure the Expected Time of Departure (ETD) except for unforeseen reasons or weather conditions may constrain PIA to change the scheduled timings and inform the passengers in advance regarding the changes.
The spokesman added that the Hajj flight from Islamabad would be seen off by Deputy Managing Director PIA, Captain Junaid Younus.
While from Peshawar, Director Corporate Services, Mamoon Rashid, will bid farewell to the pilgrims. Both the flights will carry 832 intending pilgrims on the first day of the PIA Pre-Hajj Operation 2012.
Similarly, on September 20, the first Hajj flights from Lahore, Quetta and Karachi will leave for Jeddah.
Flight PK 2401 (ETD) 07:10 hours from Lahore will be seen off by Deputy Managing Director Engineering, Air Vice Marshal Qasim Masood
Khan; PK 2801 (ETD) 10:00 hours from Quetta will be seen off by General Manager Passenger Handling Services, Saeed Khan; PK 2001 will leave Karachi (ETD) 14:30 hours.
About 1,335 intending pilgrims will be flown through these three flights. While, the first flight from Multan and Sialkot will leave on 27th September and first October 2012 respectively.
During Pre-Hajj operations 2012 daily eight to ten flights will operate carrying about 3,500 intending pilgrims to Jeddah from seven stations until 20th October 2012.
According to initial estimates, the National Flag Carrier will be carrying 95,000 intending pilgrims to the holy land through 204 Hajj flights to Jeddah and four flights to Madinah.
The Pre-Hajj operation 2012 will conclude on 20th October 2012, it was further stated. (APP)
Courtesy www.geo.tv