Hajj flights schedule remains in doldrums due to govt’s indecisiveness

ISLAMABAD (PPI) : Airlines including PIA are facing difficulty in planning Hajj flight operations as the Ministry of Religious Affairs failed to decide on the quota of the intending Hajj pilgrims.
Reportedly, the government has received fewer applications from intending Hajj pilgrims than the country’s quota allocated by the Saudi government for the first time in Pakistan’s history.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has not yet informed the airlines about the number of expected pilgrims because it has received less applications, the sources claimed.
The airlines are facing difficulties in preparing the final plan for the Hajj flight operation due to the non-receipt of data. These airlines including national airline PIA are awaiting details from the ministry regarding Hajj flight operations. Fewer pilgrims than the quota are likely to leave Pakistan this year.
The Saudi government had given a quota of 179,000 pilgrims to Pakistan this year, but fewer applications have been received due to an extraordinary increase in Hajj expenses. As a result of which, the government is going to surrender 10 percent quota to Saudi Arabia.
This year 72,869 people submitted applications under the regular scheme while 28,679 more applications were submitted against the additional quota of 44,190. Besides, 8,000 people submitted applications under the sponsorship scheme, the sources added.