ISLAMABAD: Pakistani officials and Hajj pilgrims on Sunday lauded the Saudi authorities for seamless immigration facilities as the first flight under the Makkah Route initiative left Islamabad for Madinah, with 385 pilgrims onboard.
The Makkah Route initiative is a component of Saudi Arabia's Guests of God Service Program, which King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud inaugurated in 2019 under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to diversify the economy. Under the scheme, Hajj pilgrims go through immigration facilities at the airports of their respective countries.
Pakistan's Minister of Religious Affairs Senator Talha Mahmood and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, along with officials from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), saw off the pilgrims at the airport.
“We are very much pleased for the Route to Makkah facilitation at Islamabad airport as the first Hajj flight from Islamabad went to Madinah,” Haseeb Ahmed Siddiqui, the Hajj director in Islamabad, told Arab News.
Pakistani pilgrims stand in line to be processed by Saudi immigration officials at Islamabad International Airport under Route to Makkah initiative in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 21, 2023. (AN photo by Fatimah Amjad)
Because of the initiative, pilgrims would not have to wait in queues at Jeddah and Madinah airports and would straight go to their residences, he said, lauding the Saudi authorities for providing excellent facilities to pilgrims over the years.
The Makkah Route initiative will facilitate the departure of more than 26,000 Pakistani pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year, according to the Pakistani authorities.
“Thanks to the Route to Makkah initiative, I did not face any issues and did not have to wait in a queue as my immigration was swiftly completed within no time,” Muhammad Almas Tabbasum, a Pakistani Hajj pilgrim, told Arab News.
“I spent no more than a minute at the counter and was able to exit. This excellent facility, similar to the one in Islamabad, should be provided in other cities of Pakistan as well.”
Pakistani pilgrims go through passport control under Route to Makkah initiative at Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 21, 2023, prior to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. (AN photo by Fatimah Amjad)
Chaudhary Muhammad Irshad Hassan, another pilgrim from Islamabad, said the initiative provided an incredible facility to people leaving for the holy journey.
"They [the Saudi staff] have warmly welcomed us, providing us with excellent protocol, and our immigration process was completed smoothly, without any hassle," he told Arab News.
Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki talks to media ahead of the first Hajj flight departing from Islamabad International Airport to Madinah on May 21, 2023. (AN photo by Fatimah Amjad)
After landing in Saudi Arabia, Hassan said, they would be heading directly to their hotel in Madinah. “It's a very convenient and straightforward process,” he added.
Islamabad-based Shazia Irshad said her experience was "seamless" as excellent arrangements had been made at the airport.
“Even in the Kingdom, the Saudi government has warmly received the pilgrims. My sister arrived in Madinah from Lahore and mentioned that they have exceptional arrangements at Madinah airport as well,” she told Arab News.
“As soon as we reached the immigration counters under the Route to Makkah project at Islamabad airport, we didn't have to wait and so far, the experience has been very convenient.”
Saudi official stands at Route to Makkah entrance at Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 21, 2023. (AN photo by Fatimah Amjad)
Saiqa Rasheed, a resident of Rawalpindi, thanked Almighty Allah for granting her the opportunity to embark on the sacred journey.
“The Almighty has orchestrated everything for us in a way that we couldn't even comprehend and all our arrangements have been taken care of,” she told Arab News.
“We had a desire and six months ago, we had no idea it would come true, but Allah has fulfilled it for us.”
Mumtaz Malik said he was trying to perform Hajj since 2019, but could not go due to the COVID-19-related restrictions.
“I tried again last year, but the number of slots was limited, so I decided to wait for another year,” he told Arab News. "This year, by the grace of Allah, I have been given the opportunity to go and we are extremely excited that I am finally going for Hajj after four years of trying."
The Pakistani religious affairs minister thanked the Saudi leadership for facilitating the Hajj pilgrims.
“The Route to Makkah [initiative] is very comforting for Pakistani pilgrims and everyone is appreciating Saudi Arabia for this,” he told Arab News.
Pakistani pilgrims stand in line to be processed by Saudi immigration officials at Islamabad International Airport under Route to Makkah initiative in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 21, 2023. (AN photo by Fatimah Amjad)
He said his ministry had made all arrangements to provide best facilities to the pilgrims in the Kingdom.
Saudi Ambassador Al-Malki said the initiative was an important part of his country’s Vision 2030 program.
“It is a very important initiative under the Vision 2030 and will be expanded to Lahore and Karachi,” he told Arab News.
“Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are very keen for the arrival of Hajj pilgrims, their safety and comfort.”
A Pakistani pilgrim goes through passport control under Route to Makkah initiative at Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 21, 2023, prior to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah. (AN photo by Fatimah Amjad)
The ambassador thanked the Pakistani government for its cooperation for the implementation of the initiative.
A PIA spokesman said the pre-Hajj operation of the national flag carrier would continue until June 2.
“The pre-Hajj operation will include a total of 340 flights, facilitating the transportation of 65,000 pilgrims under both government and private schemes,” the spokesperson added.
