SIALKOT: Last year, 10 Haj flights took off from the Sialkot International Airport facilitating 4,000 pilgrims. That was then.

This year, the government has reduced the flights from 10 to 5, according to senior officials of the Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL).

SIAL officials said a strict competition among applicants reduced the number of successful applicants from Sialkot to 1,809 this year compared to 4,000 of the last year.

The Pakistan International Airlines will start its Haj flight operation from Sialkot airport on Sept 8 and will complete it on Sept 15.

Haj Operation Director Saeed Ahmad Malik held a meeting at the Sialkot DCO office here.

Later, District Coordination Officer Nadeem Sarwar told reporters the participants reviewed arrangements for pilgrims at the airport.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014