Last Updated on: 2nd July 2023, 02:50 am
PIA Issues Hajj Fares For 2023
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced fares for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage and the start of flight operations.
The pre-Hajj operation would begin on 21st May and last until 12th August, when the national airline will transport 38,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
“The pre-Hajj operation will begin from 1 Zilqad to 4 Zilhajj 1444, which corresponds to the Gregorian date of May 21 to June 22, 2023 (subject to moon sighting),” the circular said.
The airline decided to calculate airfares in US dollars and fixed airfares for pilgrims. The fee for private Hajj pilgrims has been set at US$1,180.
Airfares range from $810 to $1,100 for the southern region, which includes Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur, and Hyderabad.
The price for the northern region ranges from US$860 to US$1,150 and includes Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, and other cities. The cost of a full government pilgrimage based on the Hajj regime would be Rs 1.25 crore.
PIA is expected to carry 38,000 pilgrims this year, Saudi Airlines 44,000, while the rest will be flown by two Pakistan-based private airlines. PIA will use Boeing 777 and Airbus 320 for its Hajj to Jeddah and Medina operations.
Earlier Saturday, Treasury Secretary Senator Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting on Hajj 2023 policy and expressed his strong commitment to providing maximum support and collaboration to facilitate the Hajji to make the religious commitment a success.
Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Mufti Abdul Shakoor, SAPM Finance Tariq Bajwa, Special Secretary of Finance, and senior officials from the Ministries of Finance and Religious Affairs attended the meeting.
The assembly was briefed on the Hajj 2023 policy. He was informed that more than 179,000 Pakistanis will have to perform Hajj this year.
The Minister of Religious Affairs reported to the Treasury Secretary on some foreign exchange issues and asked for his assistance.
Dar said that “Hajj is a sacred religious obligation that must be performed by all Muslims and we must do our share for the blessings of Allah Almighty.”
The minister pledged to provide maximum support and cooperation to facilitate the Hajjis and make the religious event a success. The Minister for Religious Affairs thanked the Minister of Finance for his cooperation and support.
Also Read: PIA Announces Huge Discount On Eid Al-Adha Tickets