A team from Saudi Arabia is in Lahore to review the process for the provision of immigration facilities at Jinnah International Airport to Pakistani pilgrims under the Road to Makkah project.
Special counters will be set up at the airport under the project along with the installation of an exclusive immigration system connected to airports in Saudi Arabia to make air travel easier for pilgrims.
Road to Makkah initiative was first launched as a pilot project from Islamabad International Airport back in 2019.
This was yet another manifestation of Saudi leadership’s special love and affection for Pakistani people.
It is a matter of satisfaction that the initiative is now being expanded to other airports of Pakistan which will enable our Pakistani pilgrims to clear their immigration at the airport of origin.
This exercise would help save approximately 10 to 12 hours and undue hassle of our pilgrims at the Saudi airports.
Under the project, pilgrims from Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi will directly land at the Makkah airport and their luggage will directly be transported to their hotel destinations without undergoing customs checking at Saudi airports.
The people of Pakistan hold the Saudi leadership in high esteem for being Custodian to the two Holy Mosques and this initiative of facilitating the Pakistani pilgrims has only further elevated their stature and respect in the eyes of a common Pakistani.
Over the years, Saudi Arabia has been making best of arrangements for the pilgrims coming in millions to the holy land for the performance of Hajj.
The people from outside the Kingdom could not perform Hajj during the last two years due to the breakout of Covid-19.
But this year, the Saudi government has decided to allow about one million people both from inside and outside the Kingdom to perform Hajj.
he arrangements, especially the health precautions being put in place by Saudi Arabia for the safe and secured Hajj is really commendable.
Our Ministry of Religious Affairs should also spare no effort to make the best of arrangements for Pakistani pilgrims both at Makkah and Madinah.
