KARACHI, Jan 26: The pre-Haj operation was completed on Monday with the transportation of 108,186 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims were ferried to Jeddah through 313 Haj flights operated from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta.

A PIA official told APP that the national flag carrier maintained a regularity rate of 96 per cent. The operation started on Dec 26, 2003, and continued till Jan 26, 2004.

According to figures, 25,736 Haj pilgrims were flown from Karachi by 70 flights, Islamabad 19,699 by 56 flights, Lahore 32,591 by 74 flights, Peshawar 15,626 by 58 flights, Quetta 14,534 by 55 flights.

According to PIA, the post-Haj operation will commence on Feb 5 and end on March 6. On arrival, the Hajis will be provided complimentary 10-litre canes of Aab-i-Zam Zam by PIA.-APP