Latest news with #MuhammadUmarButt
Express Tribune
09-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Hajj 2026 deadline extended
The religious affairs ministry on Wednesday announced a two-day extension in the deadline for Hajj 2026 registration, allowing prospective pilgrims to complete the process by Friday, July 11, 2025. According to the ministry's spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt, the decision was taken in response to a high number of requests from intending pilgrims. He said registration can be completed through 15 designated banks and the ministry's official online portal. As of now, more than 313,000 applicants have successfully registered for Hajj 2026, he added. Butt further clarified that the cost of the pilgrimage and other terms and conditions will be issued separately.
Express Tribune
15-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Post-Hajj flights continue amid tensions
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony confirmed on Sunday that the post-Hajj flight operation was continuing successfully despite global air traffic disruptions. Ministry Spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt said as of Saturday, a total of 11,418 Pakistani pilgrims had returned home from Saudi Arabia, while 4,995 more pilgrims were expected to arrive via 20 flights scheduled to land across five major cities on Sunday. "Today, six flights each will land in Islamabad and Lahore, four in Karachi, three in Multan, and one in Quetta," the spokesperson stated. The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will operate eight of these flights; Saudi Airlines, five; AirBlue, four; AirSial, two; and Serene Air one. "Despite the international challenges in air traffic, the return operation is proceeding efficiently," he noted, urging the pilgrims to maintain discipline to ensure a smooth repatriation process. Pilgrims were also advised to strictly adhere to the instructions. Pak airspace becomes key route Several foreign airlines have started using Pakistan's airspace for various international destinations as airspace closures continued in the Middle East region because of the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, data shows. Major carriers, including Emirates, are now flying over northern Pakistan on routes to North America, Egypt, and other destinations. Their flight paths pass through western Pakistan, then proceed over Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Turkey before heading west. The airspaces of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel remained closed. The major airlines affected by the regional tension include El Al, Emirates, Lufthansa, Air India, Aeroflot, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, subsidiary AJet, Aegean Airlines, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, and flydubai. These carriers have suspended flights to and from Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan or rerouted flights over safer airspace such as Central Asia or Saudi Arabia. Iraq's closure affects one of the busiest air corridors between Europe and the Gulf. The airspace of Israel and Iran remained closed on Sunday. Jordan – which geographically lies between the two warring countries – reopened its airspace after a temporary closure. Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports have reported delays and cancellations linked to these restrictions. Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, its main international terminal, remained shut with all flights suspended until further notice, according to the Israel Airports Authority. Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation confirmed its airspace closure would remain in effect until Sunday evening. With input from agencies
Arab News
31-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Pakistan concludes pre-Hajj flight operation with over 115,000 pilgrims flown to Saudi Arabia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has successfully concluded its 33-day pre-Hajj flight operation, with more than 115,000 pilgrims transported to Saudi Arabia ahead of this year's pilgrimage, the state media reported on Saturday. The country arranges special Hajj flights annually to facilitate thousands of Pakistani Muslims traveling to the Kingdom for the pilgrimage. The operation involves both government and private schemes, as well as coordination with multiple airlines to ensure smooth transit. The final flight, PK-759 from Karachi, carrying 307 pilgrims, landed in Jeddah at 6:55 PM local time, the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said. 'Under the Government Hajj Scheme, as many as 88,260 intending pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia via 342 flights from various cities of Pakistan,' APP quoted the religious affairs ministry spokesperson, Muhammad Umar Butt, as saying. 'Similarly, over 27,000 [pilgrims] arrived in the holy land under the Private Hajj Scheme,' he added. The Hajj flights were operated by a range of air carriers including Pakistan International Airlines, Saudi Airlines, SereneAir, Airblue and AirSial. The spokesperson said to support the pilgrims during the five key days of Hajj, the ministry has deployed approximately 470 coordinators, with each assigned to a group of 188 to 200 pilgrims. Each coordinator will remain with their designated group throughout the pilgrimage, helping its members during the journey from Mina to Arafat, Muzdalifah, Jamarat and back to Makkah. This year, Hajj rituals will commence on June 4, with the Day of Arafah on June 5, and Eid Al-Adha observed on June 6 in Saudi Arabia.
Gulf Today
26-05-2025
- Gulf Today
'No Hajj Without a Permit:' Saudi employs drones to curb unauthorised pilgrims
Gulf Today Report Saudi authorities are employing innovative technologies particularly drones for surveillance to prevent the infiltration of unauthorised pilgrims into Makkah during Hajj this year. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is employing state-of-the-art technologies to boost its efforts in identifying illegal pilgrims ahead of the Hajj, foreign media reported. Saudi officials welcome a pilgrim upon his arrival at Jeddah Airport. SPA The General Directorate of Public Security of Saudi Arabia has also released a video showcasing a drone equipped with a high-resolution camera monitoring violators and vehicles attempting to transport unauthorized pilgrims without the mandatory official permits, commonly known as the Nusuk Card, the foreign media further said. As part of the high-profile campaign 'No Hajj Without a Permit,' Saudi security authorities are conducting a rigorous crackdown on illegal pilgrims and against their facilitators. The released footage shows a drone identifying a suspicious vehicle in the desert, suspected of carrying undocumented pilgrims. The drone relayed the vehicle's coordinates to security patrols, who promptly apprehended the violators. Meanwhile, spokesperson for Pakistan's Religious Ministry Muhammad Umar Butt while praising Saudi authorities' this initiative said, 'Saudi Arabia's commitment to modernising the pilgrimage experience through innovative technology demonstrates their dedication to ensuring pilgrims' comfort and convenience.'
Business Recorder
10-05-2025
- Business Recorder
Hajj flight operations resume, says religious affairs ministry
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Saturday confirmed full restoration of Pakistan's airspace for all types of flights, enabling the resumption of Hajj operations according to schedule. In an exclusive talk with APP, the Ministry's spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt informed that all Hajj flights will now depart for Saudi Arabia as per their original itinerary, following the temporary suspension of flight operations due to recent security concerns. 'Due to intermittent flight suspensions, a total of 10 Hajj flights were cancelled,' the spokesperson stated. These included three flights from Lahore, two from Islamabad, and one each from Karachi and Multan, he added. As a result of these cancellations, he said 2,290 pilgrims were affected; however, 1,277 pilgrims have already been accommodated and dispatched via special flights. Umar Butt said efforts are currently underway to ensure that the remaining 1,013 pilgrims are also flown to Saudi Arabia at the earliest through additional special flight arrangements. He said that a total of 19,669 Pakistani pilgrims have successfully arrived in Saudi Arabia so far under the Hajj Operation 2025. The spokesperson advised all pilgrims to remain in contact with their respective Haji Camps for the latest updates and flight information.
