KARACHI, Jan 6: With the departure of PIA’s first Haj flight from Karachi for Saudi Arabia late Sunday, with 270 intending pilgrims on board, the national flag-carrier launched its massive Haj operation.

This year, PIA is operating its Haj flights from five cities — Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Islamabad. In all, 309 flights have been scheduled to airlift 109,560 pilgrims.

From Karachi, 63 flights carrying 21,820 pilgrims will leave for S. Arabia whereas from Lahore, 75 planes will airlift 33,746 pilgrims.

Similarly, PIA will transport 20,784 Haj pilgrims from Islamabad, 16,470 from Peshawar and 16,740 from Quetta.

PIA’s post-Haj operations from Jeddah will commence on Feb 15.

The airline has made special arrangement to provide complimentary Aab-i-Zamzam in 10-litre canes to each Haji on his return.

It is also presenting Ahraam to every male and Aba to every female intending pilgrim boarding a PIA aircraft.

The first Haj flight was seen off at Karachi airport by Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad.

Khurshid Anwar, Chief Operating Officer of PIA, N. A. Jafri, Director Operations of Civil Aviation Authority, and many senior PIA, CAA, ASF, Immigration and Customs officials were present on the occasion.—APP