‘Saudi Arabia working on increasing direct flights to Pakistan’

Fahd Hamidaddin, MD of Nusuk, a platform that streamlines the Hajj or Umrah itinerary planning process, has stated that Saudi Arabia is working on increasing direct flights to Pakistan in partnership with new airlines and the aviation authorities.

“At the Nusuk roadshow, we are trying to showcase the ease and accessibility of visiting Saudi for Umrah with this portal,” Hamidaddin said in a statement.

“We have brought ease into the Saudi visa process, and are working on increasing direct flight capacity in partnership with new airlines and the aviation authorities,” he added.

Hamidaddin said that they were looking forward to welcome Pakistani brothers and sisters to Saudi Arabia very soon.

He said that the experience in Nusuk has become like no other. “This experience is easier on accessibility ... from visas to air connectivity. We have announced new airlines and we have signed an agreement with civil aviation in Pakistan to increase the number of direct flights.”

Read more: Pakistan, S Arabia to expand flight operations

Earlier this week, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed an Air Services Agreement (ASA) with the aim of increasing the number of flights between the two nations.

The development came during the four-day visit of Saudi Hajj Minister Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah to Pakistan.

During a joint news conference in the capital city, Al-Rabiah highlighted the importance of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was signed.

He noted that this agreement would result in a higher number of flights connecting Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, ultimately leading to reduced travel costs for passengers.

The delegation's discussions with Pakistan's Minister of Religious Affairs focused on improving facilities and addressing challenges to provide optimal experiences for Pakistani visitors.

Al-Rabiah mentioned that Saudi Arabia expects a greater number of Pakistani visitors this year, building upon the substantial inflow from the previous year.

Al-Rabiah also shared Saudi Arabia's efforts to enhance the pilgrimage experience, citing the opening of eight historical sites in Madinah and plans to open approximately 100 more sites in Makkah and Madinah soon.

He emphasised that the Saudi government seeks to enhance pilgrim services by encouraging competition among companies, thereby improving services and reducing costs.

Caretaker Minister Aneeq expressed gratitude for the restoration of Pakistan's pre-pandemic Hajj quota and requested an increase in the quota to accommodate Pakistan's increased population as per the recent census. He also urged the expansion of the Makkah Route Initiative in Pakistan, which streamlines Hajj-related procedures for departure.

Additionally, Pakistan has requested a fingerprinting exemption for pilgrims above the age of 65 due to difficulties in fingerprint recognition, especially for senior citizens.

The visit marked further cooperation and collaboration between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in facilitating pilgrimage and strengthening bilateral ties.

This partnership highlights the mutual commitment to enhancing the experience of pilgrims and fostering amicable relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The Air Services Agreement and discussions surrounding various initiatives underscore the ongoing efforts to streamline procedures and ensure the well-being of the pilgrims.