Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has introduced a special package to facilitate Muslim pilgrims, who plan to travel from China to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, WealthPK reports. Under the package, the pilgrims travelling on PIA from Beijing and Chengdu would be provided connecting flights from Islamabad to Saudi Arabia and back. The national flag carrier is currently operating weekly passenger flights on Islamabad-Beijing-Islamabad and Islamabad-Chengdu-Islamabad routes on Sunday and Wednesday, respectively.

In wake of the Chinese New Year and winter holidays in China, PIA has already reduced fares for passengers travelling on the Beijing-Islamabad route. The new fare from Beijing to Islamabad is now RMB4,681 including all taxes, which will greatly facilitate the passengers wishing to travel to Pakistan to meet their families during holidays. The national flag carrier has also reduced the existing fare on the Beijing-Islamabad-Beijing round trip. The new fare is now RMB12,050 including all taxes.

China has already announced to scrap the quarantine requirement for international arrivals starting from January 8. Passengers travelling to China need to undergo the nucleic acid test within 48 hours before boarding their flights. The nucleic acid screening and centralised isolation after arrival will be cancelled, according to China’s National Health Commission. Some Pakistani nationals expressed happiness over the introduction of the Umrah package for Pakistani and other Muslims living in China. They said that they would be able to fulfil their religious obligation as well as meet their relatives on the way back to China after performing Umrah.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk