RIYADH, 16 January 2004 — The Pakistan International Airlines has resumed its flights to South Asian destinations after a gap of two years. The airline’s new schedule has two weekly operations to Bombay, New Delhi, Colombo, Katmandu and Dhaka from Karachi and an additional two weekly flights between Lahore and New Delhi.

Announcing the new schedule, the General Manager of PIA for Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Saleem Nisar, told newsmen and travel agents at a meeting here that the South Asian destinations have always been a prime market for the airline, especially because of frequent travels by expatriates living in the Kingdom. He said that the airline has introduced highly attractive fares for this sector.

The resumption of PIA’s flights to India was a result of the recent signing of a bilateral aviation agreement between India and Pakistan.

Asked about the security measures taken by the airline for its flights to India, Nisar said no air marshals would be deployed on the aircraft. However, airports in Pakistan have made adequate security arrangements. He also said that the airline’s fleet of 45 will be supplemented with eight more Boeing 777 aircraft over a period of five years. The airline will also commission a brand new aircraft under the scheme by next week.

During the current Haj season, 165 out of the 321 flights have already brought in pilgrims to Makkah. These special charters will ferry in a total of 1,11,572 pilgrims.

Talking to newsmen in Jeddah earlier this week Nisar said PIA would provide stopover facilities at Karachi to Indian and Bangladeshi passengers with a nominal charge of $50. He said he was very optimistic about PIA operations to the new destinations. Nisar said PIA had picked 72 pilgrims from New Delhi so far.

Regarding PIA’s Haj operation, he said PIA is providing an umbrella and an abaya to women pilgrims and an umbrella and ihram to male pilgrims. A zamzam can will be given to each pilgrim on his/her return flight.

PIA is carrying pilgrims from five places in Pakistan — Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta. He said it was heartening that Pakistani pilgrims from Europe, USA and other foreign countries now prefer PIA.

A new system of issuing pre-boarding passes to pilgrims has been introduced this year, which proved convenient to both pilgrims and the airline, Nisar said.

Imtiaz Bhutto, general manager western region and Manzoor Hussain, station manager, Jeddah Airport, also attended the press conference.