LAHORE: The immigration system at the Allama Iqbal International Airport caught fire on Thursday due to a short circuit on the roof of the immigration counter.
Authorities said the fire broke out in the departure lounge of the airport and that the fire was extinguished after a struggle by civil aviation officials. However, there are some disruptions in flight operations and the immigration process due to thick smog.
Sources said the first Hajj flight scheduled to depart from Lahore has been canceled and seven other international flights have also been delayed due to the flight.
The authorities said the immigration phase of the pilgrims has continued internally.
Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has sought an inquiry report into the fire incident at the immigration post.
Instead, according to sources, the initial report of the airport was submitted to the Minister of Defence, Defense Production and Aviation Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Secretary Aviation. According to reports, the fire broke out in the international departure area of the airport at 5:23 am and was brought under control by 8 am.
“Pilgrims and other passengers had difficulties when the lounge was filled with smoke. “The [Federal Investigation Agency] FIA damaged the immigration system,” he said.
The report asserted that the CAA fire tender did not reach the airport and firefighters did not follow standard operating procedures. Sources said that according to the rules, there is a certain period of time to put out the fire at the airport.
On the other hand, the CAA spokesperson said that the situation at the airport is gradually returning to normal as all agencies at the airport are working on this.
On May 3, the Ministry of Religion announced that Pakistan will operate 11 special flights to transport 2,160 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia on the first day of scheduled operations, including 670 passengers from Lahore via three flights, 330 from Karachi via two flights, 680 from Islamabad via three flight, 329 from Multan two flights, 151 via one flight from Sialkot.
The ministry spokesperson said that Hajj 2024 flight operations during the month will start from May 9 to June 9.
All scheduled flights for the first 15 days will land at Madinah Airport, while most flights will land at Jeddah Airport from May 24 to June 9, the spokesman said.
After that, the first Hajj flight from Balochistan will depart from Quetta on May 11 and from Sukkur on May 27.
The ministry will conduct a total of 259 Hajj special flights for more than 68,000 pilgrims registered under the government scheme, the minister said, adding that the special operation will end on June 9.
It will then resume flight operations on June 20 to bring pilgrims home after Hajj.
