PIA adjudged Best Hajj Airline Operator for third year running

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Saudi Arabia, has declared the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as the best airline operator amongst the 74 international Airlines operating from Hajj terminal, flying more than 1.7 million Hajjis in 2012. 

The PIA spokesman, Syed Sultan Hasan presented the copies of the certification of 25 Zilhajj 1433H (November 10, 2012) mentioning PIA as the Best Hajj Airline Operator to a Pakistan media team visiting Saudi Arabia at Madinah. 

The GACA, in the certificate issued to PIA, has noted that they closely monitored the activities of all the airlines’ operating from Hajj terminal Jeddah and considered that PIA again proved itself the best operator on the basis of regularity as well as services provided. 

The GACA further said that PIA demonstrated exceptional value by overcoming the delay factor of departures during the initial two days of Post Hajj operation. 

This is the third consecutive year starting from 2010 that PIA has been chosen by the Saudi Arabia Civil Aviation as the best Hajj flight operator. 

The testimonial from the GACA should further motivate PIA would in order to continue serving the Hajjis with even greater devotion in the years to come.

Glowing tributes paid to Allama Iqbal at SSUET

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi  
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The life and achievements of great philosopher and poet, Dr Allama Mohammed Iqbal, were highlighted at a Iqbal Day function held at the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology (SSUET), Karachi, on November 9, his 135th birth anniversary. 

Speaking as chief guest on the occasion the Chancellor SSUET, Engr Z A Nizami, declared that Dr Mohammed Iqbal was a great poet, thinker and philosopher at the same time who devoted his poetry for the renaissance of Islam and whose concept later turned as the basis for ideology of Pakistan. 

He remarked that Iqbal's foremost book Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam was intended to secure a vision of the spirit of Islam and he encouraged Muslims to embrace ideals of brotherhood, justice, and service. 

“Through his poetry he tried to free the Muslim’s mind from the prevailing colonial mentality and own narrow self-interests,” Chancellor Nizami added. 

Renowned scholar Prof Dr Waqar Ahmed Rizvi said that in his poetry Iqbal focussed on love (Ishq) and described it as a great power that brings one closer to Allah. 

Senior Aligarhian and columnist Saeed Siddiqui, another senior Aligarian, Ali Zafar Khan Afridi, also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the monumental role which Iqbal's poetry played in the movement for Pakistan. 

The students of the SSUET, Umar Khan Ufaq and Umar Ali Kazmi, while delivering their speeches on Dr Iqbal called for following his philosophy for the growth and success of the nation. 

Khumar Farooqui, a noted poet and Incharge SSUET’s Literary and Culture Forum, paid poetic tribute to Allama Iqbal.