ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said on Monday the government was intent on making Saudi Arabia’s ‘Road to Makkah’ project a success.
The Road to Makkah project is aimed at facilitating Hajj pilgrims from across the Muslim world. During the February visit to Islamabad by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Prime Minister Imran Khan requested Saudi Arabia to include Pakistan in the project. Responding to the request, Saudi authorities announced that all pilgrims traveling from Pakistan would be able to clear immigration at local airports in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar.
“The aviation division has inculcated five major airports in the country to store Zamzam water for Hajj pilgrims this year,” Khan said, adding that the initiative was “as per the instructions of the Ministry of Religious Affairs to the Islamabad International Airport.”
Khan added that ample space had been allocated at several airports for the storage of Zamzam holy water which would be brought from Saudi Arabia and distributed among pilgrims on their return from Hajj this year.
“These airports include Islamabad, Quetta, Faislabad, Sukkar and Rahim Yar Khan,” he said.
In April this year, a Saudi delegation comprising officials from the Kingdom’s immigration and passport departments visited Pakistan to evaluate facilities for pilgrims at the major airports.
As part of the Road to Makkah initiative, the Hajj quota for Pakistani pilgrims has been increased from 184,210 to 200,000 this year. This year Saudi Arabia has also agreed, in principle, to provide e-visas to Pakistanis performing Hajj. Hajj flights from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia will be operational from the first week of July.
Pakistani seeks to make ‘Road to Makkah’ project a success
Pakistani seeks to make ‘Road to Makkah’ project a success
- Aviation minister says five major airports will store Zamzam water for Hajj pilgrims this year
- Pakistan was included in Road to Makkah project during the February visit to Islamabad by Crown Prince Salman
