ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s “landmark” decision to allow millions of Umrah pilgrims to travel to other cities in the country, instead of being restricted to Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.
“This is another gift from the Kingdom after Road to Makkah program,” Imran Siddiqui, spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs told Arab News, adding that Pakistan “welcomes this landmark decision by the Saudi government.”
The Saudi cabinet on Tuesday decided to allow Umrah pilgrims and visitors at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah to move freely in the Kingdom outside the cities of Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah, reported the Saudi Press Agency. “A royal decree has been prepared to this effect,” the SPA quoted the Kingdom’s acting media minister Issam bin Saeed as saying.
Siddiqui said that “now any Pakistani who travels to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah can avail this opportunity to meet their family members and friends living in different parts of Kingdom.”
“This will bring ease to Pakistani nationals who top the list of pilgrims performing Umrah,” he said, adding that “this year alone, more than 1.6 million Pakistanis performed Umrah.”
According to Saudi media reports, nearly eight million Muslims from across the world are expected to perform Umrah this year, with the latest development expected to add another feather to their cap.
Pakistan lauds Saudi decision to allow free movement of pilgrims
Pakistan lauds Saudi decision to allow free movement of pilgrims
- All pilgrims allowed to travel to different cities during their stay in the Kingdom
- Pakistanis top list of nationalities performing Umrah this year
Islamic military coalition, Pakistan to deepen cooperation to combat ‘terrorism’ — Pakistani military
- Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition is a 43-member alliance that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE and other nations
- The Pakistani military statement comes after a meeting between IMCTC secretary-general and the chief of Pakistani defense forces in Rawalpindi
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation, including intelligence sharing and capacity building, to jointly combat “terrorism” and “extremism,” the Pakistani military said on Monday.
The IMCTC is a 43-member military alliance that was formed on Saudi Arabia’s initiative in Dec. 2015 to consolidate Muslim countries’ efforts in countering “terrorism.”
A 17-member IMCTC delegation is visiting Pakistan from Feb. 2-6 to conduct a training at National University of Sciences and Technology on “Re-integration and Rehabilitation of Extremist Elements,” according to the Pakistani military.
On Monday, IMCTC Secretary-General Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi held a meeting with Chief of Pakistani Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir to discuss cooperation among IMCTC member states.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest were discussed, with particular emphasis on regional security dynamics and enhanced cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said in a statement.
“Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism and extremism through collaborative strategies, intelligence sharing, and capacity building among member states.”
The IMCTC features Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Palestine, UAE, Bangladesh and other nations. In 2017, Pakistan’s former army chief Gen. (retd) Raheel Sharif was appointed as the IMCTC commander-in-chief.
During discussions with Major General Al-Moghedi, Field Marshal Munir appreciated the role of IMCTC in fostering stability and promoting coordinated counterterrorism initiatives across the Islamic world, according to the ISPR.
The IMCTC secretary-general acknowledged Pakistan’s significant contributions and sacrifices in the fight against militancy and lauded the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces.
“The meeting underscored the resolve of both sides to further strengthen institutional collaboration for peace, stability, and security in the region,” the ISPR added.
Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with most Muslim countries around the world, particularly Gulf Cooperation Council countries. In Sept. 2025, Pakistan signed a landmark defense pact with Saudi Arabia according to which an act of aggression against one country will be treated as an act of aggression against both.
