Airlines halt Hajj operations for a week

Hajj’s air operations of both domestic and foreign airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines, have been halted for a week because of a delay in announcing the details of the expenses of the pilgrimage by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has allocated Rs 800,000 for Hajj expenditures for Islamabad, Punjab, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa under the framework of the Hajj government program whereas for the pilgrims of Sindh and Balochistan have been set to Rs 791,000.

According to the airline management, the move has worried Hujjaj since they can not book tickets and hotels.

Tickets could not be reserved as details of Hajj spending were not announced, management said.

The booking will commence after the details of the pilgrimage expenses are received from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

In addition, the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the expenses of the pilgrimage.

According to PIA officials, the Hajj operation will be conducted in eight Pakistani cities: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan, Peshawar, and Quetta.

They said a total of 297 Hajj flights will make their way to Jeddah and Medina.