Saudi delegation visits IIA to review Hajj arrangements

RAWALPINDI:

A delegation from Saudi Arabia arrived here on Sunday to review arrangements made to assist Haj pilgrims under the pilot project “Road to Makkah”.

The team will help with the immigration clearance after scrutinising the travel documents of Pakistani pilgrims at the Islamabad airport.

The Saudi delegation arrived at the Islamabad airport after a visit to Lahore to review arrangements.

Islamabad International Airport Manager Adnan Khan briefed the Saudi delegation about the Hajj arrangements. Pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia from Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore airports will be facilitated under the “Road to Makkah project”.

Adnan told the Saudi delegation that a system will be installed at special counters for immigration and pre-clearance of Hajj pilgrims. Immigration of pilgrims from the Islamabad airport will be completed with the help of the Saudi staff. It may be recalled that under the Road to Makkah project, pilgrims from Islamabad had been facilitated in 2019.

Hajj operations did not take place for years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the “Road to Makkah” project — which has been initiated by Saudi Arabia to facilitate Muslim pilgrims — all immigration requirements are fulfilled at the airport of origin.

The project also includes other Muslim countries, like Indonesia and Malaysia.