Hajj immigration preclearance to be available in Islamabad

Passengers will be able to get Saudi immigration desk work done before departure, saving time

ISLAMABAD: Hajj pilgrims may receive major respite in their travel experience as Saudi authorities have given the green signal for an immigration preclearance system to begin operations at Pakistani airports. Preparations for the new immigration system will be complete in time for Hajj season at Islamabad airport, where Saudi and Pakistani immigration officials will be performing all immigration procedures at the airport. Initially, 20,000 Hajj pilgrims will be facilitated in Islamabad.

The facility was among the subjects of talks between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman.

According to sources, the Saudi interior ministry and security institutions have been informed of the decision, and the Pakistani interior ministry, aviation division, and the ministry of religious affairs have been advised to complete preparations for the immigration formalities at Islamabad airport. Sources further said that after the approval of the Saudi interior ministry and immigration department, about 20,000 pilgrims will be facilitated with immigration preclearance during the Hajj operations at Islamabad airport, and, subject to the success of the pilot project this year, the process will be extended to Karachi and Lahore airports from next year.

Distribution of Hajj quota called ‘discriminatory’

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the interior ministry have reserved 10 additional immigration counters at Islamabad airport for scrutinising travel documents and processing immigration clearance for Hajj pilgrims. Immigration officials from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will perform their respective immigration and emigration duties at Islamabad airport, which means that passengers will not have to undergo full verification of travel documents at Saudi airports. They will be allowed to exit the airport in Saudi Arabia after a brief recheck of travel documents.

According to sources, 40 officials from the Saudi immigration department are scheduled to reach Islamabad next week. The Saudi officials will come along special immigration hardware and software which would be installed at Islamabad airport, while officers from Pakistan’s immigration department will jointly monitor all immigration operations for Hajj pilgrims. The Saudi officials will work in three eight-hour shifts so that the counters remain open 24-hours-a-day during the Hajj season.

Federal Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan told The Express Tribune that getting the Saudi government to begin immigration pre-clearance for Hajj pilgrims is a big achievement for the current government, adding that particular credit is owed to Prime Minister Imran Khan and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman. The federal minister said that if Saudi security institutions are satisfied with the operation of the preclearance facility at Islamabad airport, the practice will be extended to other cities.

Earlier this year, PM Imran had requested the Saudi crown prince to ease the immigration process for Pakistani Hajj pilgrims. The crown prince had assured the prime minister of his support, after which a Saudi delegation visited various airports of Pakistan including Islamabad airport for a comprehensive review of the immigration procedures.