ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Raja Ali Ejaz hailed the implementation of Saudi Arabia’s Road to Makkah project which aims to facilitate pilgrims traveling to the country for Hajj this year.
A statement released by the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday said that the program is one of several pioneering initiatives undertaken by the Kingdom in recent times.
“The program is being implemented for the first time in Pakistan and in a number of other countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Tunisia. Some 225,000 pilgrims are expected to benefit from this...” the statement added.
During his visit to Pakistan in February 2019 – on the request of Prime Minister Imran Khan – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman had announced plans to include Pakistan in the project.
“The initiative aims at completing the Saudi immigration process of the intending Hajj pilgrims at specialized counters in Pakistan airports, and upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, the pilgrims will just move out of the airports without the need of going through the process of immigration again,” the statement read.
Ambassador Ejaz said that Pakistan feels honored to be a part of the program which is aimed at facilitating the smooth and hassle-free movement of pilgrims upon their arrival in Saudi airports by reducing the time spent at immigration.
Earlier this week, a 51-member team from Saudi arrived in Pakistan to install the immigration clearance system at the Islamabad International Airport, with Hajj flights scheduled to begin from tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in a statement released on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi thanked the Kingdom for including Pakistan in the initiative, adding that the move will facilitate several pilgrims traveling from the country.
Pakistan’s envoy to Saudi all praise for Road to Makkah initiative
Pakistan’s envoy to Saudi all praise for Road to Makkah initiative
- Program is being implemented for the first time in a South Asian country
- FM Qureshi thanks Riyadh for including Islamabad in the project
Pakistani art and culture festival opens in Dubai
- Festival features traditional and contemporary Pakistani art and crafts
- Event follows recent Pakistan-linked cultural exhibitions in the UAE
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani art and culture festival opened in Dubai on Saturday, bringing together traditional and contemporary artistic expressions as part of efforts to promote Pakistan’s cultural heritage on an international platform.
The festival, held at the Dubai International Art Center, is a continuation of similar cultural events arranged by Pakistan in the Gulf state. The event features works by Pakistani artists and cultural vendors offering traditional clothing, jewelry and handcrafted items.
“UAE provides unique spaces and opportunities where diverse cultures converge, interact and are celebrated,” Pakistan’s Consul General Hussain Muhammad said, according to an official statement, after inaugurating the event.
“Art serves as an important instrument of soft diplomacy, helping project Pakistan’s positive image to the world and fostering people-to-people connections,” he added.
Pakistani participation in UAE cultural spaces has included artists featured at Art Dubai 2025, one of the Middle East’s major international art fairs, where Pakistani creatives exhibited works spanning modern and contemporary sections.
In 2025, Pakistani artists also presented their work at an exhibition in Ajman that highlighted Pakistan’s cultural heritage, drawing art lovers and diplomats alike.
Last year also saw an exhibition in Dubai that displayed the work of Pakistan’s late painter and calligrapher Sadequain, giving audiences in the UAE a chance to engage with the legacy of one of the country’s most iconic artists.
