Haj Flights to Start Today

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI/ Special haj flights will start from December 2 and all returning pilgrims will be checked for swine flu by thermal scanners.The federal health ministry is looking after the arrangements made at Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi airports. Doctors and the emergency response centre of Pakistan International Airlines PIA and Civil Aviation Authority CAA are all set to take care of the situation, and have special equipment including thermometers, gloves and masks to avoid direct contact with those infected with the disease.

We will check the body temperature of each passenger and look out for symptoms like sneezing or coughing, Allama Iqbal airport health officer Dr Rubina Naz said.Usually, pilgrims catch a cold or a fever during the haj season, which is why they would be checked before the immigration counters.People with fever would be examined thoroughly, and if there is a threat they will be shifted to the Services Hospital, she said.

The first flight carrying pilgrims that included journalists and bureaucrats arrived in Islamabad on November 30.According to PIA, the airline’s post-haj operation will commence from December 2, 2009 and conclude on January 1, 2010.Flights will leave Jeddah for Pakistan on December 2, 2009 bringing back around 2,062 hajis on the first post haj flights to Quetta, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi.

On December 2, 2009, PK 2702 will be reaching Quetta at 7:25 am with 329 passengers, PK 4502 to Lahore at 10:00 am with 468 passengers, PK 2604 will reach Islamabad at 4:00 pm with 468 passengers and PK 2804 will arrive Peshawar at 6:00 pm with 329 passengers. The first post haj flight for Karachi PK 2004 will arrive early on December 3, 2009.

Passengers for Faisalabad, Rahim Yar Khan and Sukkur will be transported by PIA from Karachi through connecting flights.Civil Aviation Authorities of King Abdul Aziz International Airport have appreciated the PIA pre-haj operations at Jeddah and Madina for speedy handling of passengers to avoid congestion at the terminal building.