ISLAMABAD Mohammed bin Salman, the prime minister and crown prince of Saudi Arabia, has approved the immediate construction of the "Road to Makkah" project facility at the Karachi airport, according to a report by Geo News on Monday, which cited sources.
In this context, the Saudi Consul General in Karachi, Faleh Al-Rehaili, escorted a two-person delegation from Saudi Arabia to the Jinnah International Airport (JIAP).
According to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), they were there to go over the airport's infrastructure and talk about the plans for the Road to Makkah project.
The acting airport manager for the aviation authority and other agency personnel greeted the group upon their arrival, according to the PACC. The group was given a thorough tour of the airport's facilities by the airport manager.
The delegation was taken through the sequence of events that would transport Hajj pilgrims from the main entrance to the immigration area. They did a thorough inspection of the facilities.
The Federal Investigation Agency, the Customs authorities, the PCAA officials, and the Airport Security Force met with the Saudi delegation. To talk about the specifications and protocol for processing, they also convened meetings with the technical teams.
According to the PCAA, "the delegation demonstrated a special interest in the immigration space allocation process as well as the entry procedure for intending pilgrims." Other important topics covered were the distribution of immigration halls, private Hajj travelers, and identifying between travelers on government and private schemes, among other things.
"Moreover, the significance of pilgrims arriving at least five hours before their flight was emphasized, guaranteeing enough time for essential processes and preparations before their departure.”
The Federal Investigation Agency, the Customs authorities, the PCAA officials, and the Airport Security Force met with the Saudi delegation. To talk about the specifications and protocol for processing, they also convened meetings with the technical teams.
According to the PCAA, "the delegation demonstrated a special interest in the immigration space allocation process as well as the entry procedure for intending pilgrims." Other important topics covered were the distribution of immigration halls, private Hajj travelers, and identifying between travelers on government and private schemes, among other things.
According to the sources, in the next days, the immigration facilities for pilgrims doing the Hajj at the Karachi airport would be finalized for Saudi Arabia.
The relevant officials of the federal government have said that all requirements will be met at the airport under the Road to Makkah initiative for Hajj pilgrims traveling from Sindh, including Karachi.
Following their clearance from the airport, pilgrims doing the Hajj will be taken straight to their lodgings, bypassing the lengthy immigration process at the airports in Medina and Jeddah.
The Islamabad airport is now experiencing effective functioning of the Road to Makkah project.
In order to finalize and sign an agreement about the Road to Makkah project, Dr. Nasir Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Dawood, the deputy interior minister of Saudi Arabia at the time, arrived in Pakistan on May 16, 2023, for a two-day official visit.
