Road to Makkah project comes to Karachi

44-member team of Saudi immigration, IT experts arrives to set up counters at Jinnah Terminal

KARACHI:

A delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, comprising 44 personnel from the KSA's immigration and technical departments, arrived in the metropolitan city to launch the 'Road to Makkah' project.

Director and deputy director Hajj, officials from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Airport Security Force (ASF) and others warmly welcomed the guests.

The immigration of pilgrims departing from Karachi for Hijaz for the first time will take place at Jinnah Terminal Airport. The Civil Aviation Authority (Pakistan) has established eight counters near Gate No 24 in the international departure lounge, exclusively for the Saudi immigration authorities who will install their own immigration system. The first pre-Hajj flight is scheduled for departure on May 9.

The immigration process for a total of 19,231 pilgrims from Karachi, Sukkur and Quetta, will be done at Karachi Airport. The Director of Hajj, Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah, has made arrangements for the pilgrims to receive an 8.5GB SIM card, which will have certain restrictions such as blocking access to YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Furthermore, a code will be affixed to their luggage ensuring a hassle-free transfer to their designated accommodations in the holy land.

Upon the arrival, the Saudi delegation was warmly received by Director Hajj Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah and Deputy Director Hajj Gulzar Ahmed Soomro as well as the senior officials from the CAA, ASF, and other relevant organisations.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Pakistan has established eight Saudi immigration counters at Karachi Airport. To facilitate their operations, a designated area near Gate No. 24 in the International Departure Lounge has been allocated for the Saudi authorities. This area will house eight counters where the Saudi staff and IT experts will install their immigration equipment.

It is important to mention that this year, the Saudi immigration staff will be responsible for handling the immigration process of Hajj pilgrims at Karachi Airport as part of the 'Road to Makkah' project as Karachi Airport has been included in the Road to Makkah project for this year.

Under the project, the immigration process for 16,200 Hajj pilgrims from Karachi, 750 from Sukkur and 2,200 from Quetta will be done at the Karachi airport.

Following the training sessions, the Directorate of Hajj Karachi is diligently conducting the vaccination and inoculation process. This preventive measure, implemented under the government scheme, takes place five days before the flight to Hajj, aiming to protect pilgrims against potential diseases during the pilgrimage.

Hundreds of pilgrims, both men and women, visit Haji Camp in Karachi daily in this regard.

Those embarking on their Hajj journey from Karachi will collect their passports, cards, bags, and other personal items from Haji Camp two days before to their departure.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2024.