Haj flights begin from Peshawar today

PESHAWAR: Like other parts of the country, the Haj flights will begin from Peshawar today and carry about 30,900 pilgrims from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

According to officials, all arrangements have been completed at the Haji Camp and Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar where a contingent of the police and Frontier Constabulary (FC) has been deployed for providing security to the intending pilgrims.

“A special parking area in front of the airport has been acquired for the buses carrying pilgrims from Haji Camp. The pilgrims will wait at the old building of Bacha Khan Airport where renovation and repair work has almost been completed,” Director Haj Shakeel Ahmad Sethi told The News.

He said that four airlines including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Saudi Airlines, Shaheen and Air Blue would carry the pilgrims from Peshawar to Jeddah and Madina airports. PIA and Shaheen would have 22 Haj flights each, Saudi Airlines 11 and Air Blue 10. He said the timings of the flights were different, including night time, and the pilgrims were given free option to reach the airport by themselves four hours before the flight or visit Haji Camp in Hayatabad from where they would be shifted to the airport by buses.

“The Haj operation will continue till August 24. The first flights leaving Peshawar will land at Madina while the later will go to Jeddah,” he said. Besides, he said that the special Haj flights would carry pilgrims under government scheme.

A total of 30,900 Hajis will fly this year from yjr Bacha Khan Airport, majority of them from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata. As many as 11,400 pilgrims would go under private Haj scheme.

Shakeel Ahmad Sethi said that the Pakistan Army soldiers and Peshawar Traffic Police would facilitate the buses and other vehicles carrying pilgrims outside the airport. He added that the Airport Security Force and officials from other organizations would manage things inside the airport.

He explained that every intending pilgrim must be vaccinated against flu, polio and meningitis at the Haji Camp before their flights. “The pilgrims are advised to get their passports, tickets and refundable amount (if any) from Haji Camp located in Phase-7 in Hayatabad, Peshawar two days before their flights,” he added.

The director Haj also advised the pilgrims to take necessary items to protect themselves from the heat as the weather will be hot in Saudi Arabia.