The immigration system at Allama Iqbal International Airport caught fire on Thursday owing to a short circuit in the ceiling of the immigration facility, according to officials.
According to officials, the fire broke out in the airport's departure lounge and was extinguished by Civil Aviation Authority employees after considerable efforts. However, dense smoke caused significant disruptions in flight operations and the immigration procedure.
According to sources, the first Hajj flight planned to depart from Lahore was canceled, and seven additional overseas flights were delayed as a result.
The officials stated that the immigration procedure for Hajj pilgrims has restarted at the domestic counter.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced on May 3 that Pakistan would operate 11 special flights to carry 2,160 Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia on the first day of the scheduled operation, including 670 passengers from Lahore on three flights, 330 from Karachi on two flights, 680 from Islamabad on three flights, 329 from Multan on two flights, and 151 from Sialkot on a single flight.
According to the ministry official, the month-long Hajj 2024 flight operation will begin on May 9 and continue until June 9.
Each airplane booked for the first 15 days will land at Madina Airport, while the majority of flights will land at Jeddah Airport from May 24 to June 9, according to the spokesperson.
The first Hajj flight from Balochistan would depart from Quetta on May 11 and from Sukkur on May 27.
Pakistan will run 259 Hajj special flights for nearly 68,000 pilgrims enrolled under the government system, according to the ministry, with the special operation set to end on June 9.
Later, on June 20, the government will restore aircraft operations to transport pilgrims home after the conclusion of the sacred pilgrimage, it added.