KARACHI: A 12-member delegation of Saudi officials visited the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Tuesday to explore the possibility of extending the Makkah Route Initiative to the country’s southern port city to facilitate local Hajj pilgrims this year.
Launched as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, the initiative allows for the completion of immigration procedures at the pilgrim’s country of departure, making it possible to bypass long immigration and customs checks upon reaching Saudi Arabia, which significantly reduces the waiting time and makes the entry process smoother and faster.
Pakistani pilgrims performing Hajj under the government scheme have been availing this facility at the airport in Islamabad for the last couple of years. But the government wants the initiative to be extended to other cities as well.
“In order to facilitate the intending pilgrims, the high-level delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comprising 12 VVIPs [very, very important personalities] arrived today at JIAP [Jinnah International Airport], Karachi, at 7.30 a.m. on 5th March, 2024 for extension of route to Makkah project from Karachi,” the Hajj Directorate in Karachi announced in a statement.
The delegation arrived at the airport to survey a site to be allocated by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) for the Makkah Route Initiative, the Hajj Directorate in Karachi added.
It said that after the joint survey by Saudi and Pakistani officials was conducted, a “high-level meeting” took place at the CAA which was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki and the Saudi delegation.
From the Pakistani side, the delegation comprised Syed Ata ur Rehman, the secretary of religious affairs and Sajjad Haider Yaldram, joint secretary of Hajj in Pakistan, as well as Karachi Hajj Director Gulzar Soomro. Representatives of Pakistan’s Customs, Airport Security Force, Immigration and Anti-Narcotics Force also attended the meeting.
Pakistani authorities last year said they were hoping for the Saudi authorities to extend the initiative to two additional airports in Karachi and Lahore.
They also informed that Saudi delegations would visit the two cities ahead of the next Hajj season.
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.
This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14 till June 19.
Saudi delegation evaluates Karachi airport for Makkah Route Initiative’s expansion to ease Hajj journey
https://arab.news/j7e6u
Saudi delegation evaluates Karachi airport for Makkah Route Initiative’s expansion to ease Hajj journey
- The initiative allows aspiring pilgrims to complete the immigration procedures at their country of departure
- Local pilgrims flying out of Islamabad have already been availing this facility for the last couple of years
Pakistan deputy PM speaks with Iranian FM as Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles and drones
- Ishaq Dar expresses concern over evolving regional situation as both officials agree to remain in contact
- Pakistan earlier reminded Tehran of its mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia during diplomatic outreach
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday amid escalating tensions in the Gulf, including recent missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia that were intercepted by the Kingdom’s air defenses.
The call comes as Islamabad remains in contact with both Tehran and Gulf states to prevent the widening Iran conflict from spilling further across the region, particularly after attempted strikes on Saudi territory, a sensitive development for Pakistan, which signed a mutual defense pact with the Kingdom last year.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Dar raised concerns about the evolving regional situation during the conversation.
“Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke this evening with the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The DPM/FM expressed concern over the evolving regional situation. The two agreed to remain in touch on the developments,” it added.
The ministry did not share details of the conversation, though it came amid fast-moving developments in the region, with Saudi Arabia saying its air defenses intercepted multiple missiles and drones early on Friday.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s adviser on political affairs Rana Sanaullah said Pakistan was in contact with Iran to discourage attacks on Gulf countries and prevent misunderstandings.
“Such attacks should not be carried out from Iran’s side,” he told Geo TV.
Prior to that, the deputy prime minister told Pakistan’s Senate that Islamabad had engaged both Iran and Saudi Arabia at the outset of Iran’s retaliation in the region, reminding Tehran of its defense agreement with Saudi Arabia and conveying assurances from Riyadh that Saudi territory would not be used against Iran.
Pakistan says its administration is striving to end the conflict, though the United States-Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered the war and led to its spillover, have only intensified.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday some countries had begun mediation efforts but insisted Tehran would defend its sovereignty.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” on his Truth Social platform as the confrontation shows little sign of easing.
