ISLAMABAD: A Saudi delegation of immigration and passport officials arrived in Pakistan on a three-day visit on Monday to evaluate immigration facilities, a spokesman for the Ministry of Religious Affairs told Arab News.
The Saudi team is lead by director general immigrations Major General Sulaiman Al-Yahya and will survey airports in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar to inspect arrangement for those travelling to perform Hajj, the yearly pilgrimage of observant Muslims to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
On the first day of the visit, the Saudi officials met with Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs, Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, in Islamabad and discussed preparations to include Pakistan in the “Road to Makkah Project.”
During his visit to Pakistan in February, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman formally granted permission to include Pakistan in the Project aimed at facilitating Hajj pilgrims from across the Muslim world. The crown prince also announced that all pilgrims traveling from Pakistan could now clear immigration at local airports in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar.
“On Tuesday, the Saudi delegation will hold meetings with relevant Pakistani departments, which includes officials of civil aviation and the ministries of interior, foreign and religious affairs,” Imran Siddique, a spokesman for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told Arab News. “We will demonstrate the arrangements on our side to the visiting delegation.”
This year Saudi Arabia has also agreed in principle to provide e-Visas to Pakistanis performing Hajj. Nearly 107,526 Pakistanis will perform Hajj on the government’s quota while more than 76,000 will use services offered by private tour and Hajj operators.
Hajj flights from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia will begin in the first week of July.
Saudi delegation in Pakistan to inspect immigration arrangements for pilgrims
Saudi delegation in Pakistan to inspect immigration arrangements for pilgrims
- Will evaluate travel facilities at airports in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar
- Hajj flights from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia will begin in the first week of July
Militants kill four peace committee members in northwestern Pakistan— police
- Victims were businessmen involved with the Peace Committee in its efforts against Pakistani Taliban, says police official
- Development takes a day after six cops were killed in IED blast in northwestern Tank district, signaling surge in militant attacks
ISLAMABAD: Four members of a pro-government peace committee were killed by militants in northwestern Pakistan’s Bannu district on Tuesday, a police official confirmed amid a surge in attacks in the area.
Peace committees in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province bordering Afghanistan comprise tribal elders who publicly oppose militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Members of the peace committee have long been targeted by militants for cooperating with security forces in counterinsurgency operations. These groups were first formed during Pakistan’s 2007–2014 conflict years to help defend villages and report militant movements.
The peace committee members were targeted in an area of Bannu district that falls under the jurisdiction of Huwaid Police Station, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Raza Khan told Arab News. The victims were attacked while they were traveling in a car in the morning.
“All four were businessmen and were actively involved with the Peace Committee in efforts against the Taliban,” Khan said.
According to a police report seen by Arab News, the deceased were identified as Naseeb Ur Rehman, Hamid Naseeb, Ziaullah, while the fourth person was identified as “Fauji.”
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the attack, a statement by the interior ministry said.
“All conspiracies aimed at undermining peace efforts in KP would be thwarted,” Naqvi said.
He said the nation stands united to foil the nefarious designs of the Pakistani Taliban or TTP militants, reaffirming the government’s commitment to restoring and maintaining peace in the province.
KP has been reeling from a surge in militant attacks in recent months. A day earlier, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast killed six police officers in the province’s Tank district.
No group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. However, the TTP has claimed responsibility for some of the deadliest attacks targeting law enforcement personnel in KP in the past. It has frequently targeted convoys of security forces, police stations and check-posts besides kidnapping government officials in the region.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil to armed outfits such as the TTP. It has also alleged that India backs militant groups who carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi have consistently denied this.
