Saudi Delegation Arrives In Karachi For ‘Road to Makkah’ Project

A delegation comprising 44 members from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has arrived in Karachi with the purpose of installing immigration clearance counters for pilgrims. Their visit follows Pakistan’s announcement regarding the initiation of the ‘Road to Makkah’ project at Jinnah International Airport Karachi. Under this project, pilgrims departing from Karachi will have their immigration formalities completed at the airport. The Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan has set up eight counters near Gate No. 24 in the international departure lounge to facilitate this process.

The Saudi delegation, consisting of representatives from immigration and technical departments, will implement their immigration system to streamline the process and alleviate immigration hassles for pilgrims upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia. Karachi Airport is expected to handle approximately 19,231 pilgrims from Karachi, Sukkur, and Quetta, with all immigration formalities being conducted at the airport.

Read more: Shehbaz Vows Complete Backing For Saudi Investments

The first pre-Hajj flight is scheduled to depart on May 9, with flight operations continuing for approximately a month in preparation for the Hajj pilgrimage scheduled for June. Pilgrims will be provided with an 8.5GB SIM card and a luggage code to ensure seamless transfer to their accommodations in the holy land.

This initiative marks the first time that Saudi immigration staff will manage immigration processes at Karachi Airport as part of the ‘Road to Makkah’ project. Previously, only Islamabad Airport was included in this project. The project, aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Guests of God Service Program, aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy by facilitating pilgrims’ immigration procedures at their respective countries’ airports.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs intends to expand the Makkah Route Initiative to other cities, particularly Karachi, besides Islamabad. Currently, the initiative is only operational at Islamabad International Airport. The Civil Aviation Authority suggests that Pakistani Hajj pilgrims may bypass immigration at Jeddah airport after completing procedures in Karachi, streamlining the process for this year’s pilgrimage.