ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Saudi officials will arrive in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Feb. 26 to review direct immigration arrangements for Hajj pilgrims at the city’s Jinnah International Airport, according to a notification by Pakistan’s religion ministry this month.
The Makkah Route Initiative is part 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 their respective countries’ airports.
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry said last year it planned to expand the Makkah Route Initiative to airports in cities other than Islamabad as well, notably Karachi.
“A Saudi delegation for upscaling of Route to Makkah project will be arriving on 26-02-2024 (Monday) at the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, in order to have a survey for area to be allocated at the airport and to meet all relevant authorities at the airport,” a letter by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) dated Feb. 14 said.
The notification said the delegation would meet officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Pakistan Customs, Airport Security Force (ASF), Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and Immigration department in Karachi.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, will accompany the delegation during their visit to the airport, the notification said.
The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage that has been in practice for over 1,400 years. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, and requires every adult Muslim to undertake a journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime (if they are financially and physically able). This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14 till June 19.
Saudi Arabia last year restored Pakistan’s pre-pandemic Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims and abolished the upper age limit of 65 years. More than 81,000 Pakistani pilgrims performed Hajj under the government scheme in 2023, while the rest used private tour operators.
Saudi officials to review Makkah Route Initiative arrangements at Karachi airport next week
https://arab.news/63rns
Saudi officials to review Makkah Route Initiative arrangements at Karachi airport next week
- Pakistan’s religion ministry announced last year it would extend Makkah Route Initiative to cities other than Islamabad
- Saudi officials to arrive in Karachi on Feb. 26 to inspect Makkah Route Initiative arrangements, says aviation authority
Pakistani immigration agents express concern over US visa ban
- Trump’s administration is suspending immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries
- The pause will begin on January 21, a State Department spokesperson said this week
Pakistani immigration agents and members of the public expressed concern to US immigration ban on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump’s administration is suspending processing for immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, a State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday, as part of Washington’s intensifying immigration crackdown.
The pause, which will impact applicants from Latin American countries including Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay, Balkan countries such as Bosnia and Albania, South Asian countries Pakistan and Bangladesh, and those from many nations in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, will begin on January 21, the spokesperson said.
“It is a matter of concern,” said travel and immigration agent, Mohammad Yaseen, in Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city.
“All these people who were waiting for a long time for their visas to be issued, they also had an appointment date, their visas would be suspended. They will be affected by this news and this ban,” he added.
A local resident and banker, Amar Ali, said the ban will economically dent Pakistan because many Pakistanis earn and send dollars back home which boosts its economy.
Another local resident, Anwer Farooqui, urged President Trump to reconsider this decision and keep Pakistan, which is a very reliable friend of the United States, at the same level.
The cable, sent to US missions, said there were indications that nationals from these countries had sought public benefits in the United States.
The move, which was first reported by Fox News, does not impact US visitor visas, which have been in the spotlight given the United States is hosting the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
The decision follows a November directive to US diplomats asking them to ensure that visa applicants are financially self-sufficient and do not risk becoming dependent on government subsidies during their stay in the US, according to a State Department cable seen by Reuters at the time.
Trump has pursued a sweeping immigration crackdown since returning to office in January. His administration has aggressively prioritized immigration enforcement, sending federal agents to major US cities and sparking violent confrontations with both migrants and US citizens.
