January 10, 2006	Tuesday	Zilhaj 9, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: Saudi Arabia’s ministry for religious affairs has not yet issued clearance to PIA’s flight schedule for the post-Haj operation, which is scheduled to begin on Jan 13.

The delay has fuelled concerns about the return of a large number of pilgrims to Pakistan.

Since the start of the Haj season the national air carrier has transported as many as 130,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan.

Of these at least 30,000 pilgrims are likely to be affected by the delay in flight clearance.

A spokesman for PIA said that although the national flag carrier had submitted its flight schedule for approval to the Saudi authorities in October 2005 the same had not been cleared yet by the ministry of religious affairs.

The Saudi authorities, citing a change in policy, did not approve the entire flight schedule and refused the majority of flights during the first ten days of the return operation.

The Haj directorate of the country in Jeddah intervened in the matter, but failed to secure clearance for the schedule. Instead, the Saudi authorities cleared an alternate flight schedule from Madina.

PIA spokesman said the number of flights approved as an alternative from Madina were not enough to cater for the number of pilgrims affected by the Saudi government’s refusal to approve the national flag carrier’s plan.

It is estimated that the alternative flights approved from Madina can only bring back 7,000 people while another 30,000 would still remain stranded in Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, PIA would have to bear huge expenses to transport the pilgrims to Madina for their return flight.

Sources in the ministry for religious affairs have blamed PIA for the situation, saying the airline was aware of the situation a long time ago but had failed to make adequate arrangements.