PIA slashes airfare for Umrah pilgrims

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced a reduction in airfare to Jeddah and Madinah for Umrah pilgrims, Geo News reported.

According to PIA, return fares from Pakistan to Madinah and Jeddah have been slashed to Rs95,628, down from more than Rs100,000 previously.

The fare of PK9759 flights from Lahore to Jeddah and PK9741 flights from Islamabad to Jeddah have been slashed, according to the PIA.

PK 9731 from Karachi to Jeddah and PK 9735 from Peshawar to Jeddah fares have also been cut by Rs5,000.

Hajj Policy 2022 to be announced after agreement with Saudi Arabia: official

The Hajj Policy 2022 would be unveiled after signing an agreement with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, an official said last week.

"It is good news for all Muslims that the Saudi government opened Hajj for foreign pilgrims across the world after a two-year hiatus," an official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony told APP.

He said the Hajj policy would be designed as per the revised pilgrims’ quota — expected to be announced soon by the Saudi government.

The official said the ministry was taking all anticipatory measures for a smooth operation of Hajj 2022.

He said the ministry had floated tenders for the procurement of 40,000 doses each of Meningococcal (Meningitis ACYW-135) and Quadrivalent/Tetravalent Seasonal Influenza vaccines.

The ministry has also invited expression of interest from the scheduled banks to collect applications of the intending pilgrims for Hajj, the official said.

Similarly, talks are underway with private airlines for the transportation of the pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and back to Pakistan.

Earlier, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony had issued a public alert urging the intending pilgrims not to submit their hard-earned money to any private Hajj tour operator until the Hajj Policy 2022 was officially announced.

After taking notice of public complaints, it said some private tour operators were garnering money from intending pilgrims, but it had not authorised any individuals, banks, Hajj group organisers or agents to receive Hajj applications and collect money on behalf of the ministry.

The ministry urged the masses to be careful of fraudsters, who were deceiving them in the name of Hajj. It warned of strict action against those allegedly involved in this illegal practice.

Saudi authorities, in 2020, restricted the annual spiritual activities as part of stringent measures to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19.