–Imran sees of intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday formally inaugurated the ‘Road to Makkah’ project at the Islamabad International Airport and saw off the intending Hajj pilgrims travelling to the holy land by a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight.
The prime minister was accompanied by Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Saudi Immigration Director General Major General Suleman Abdul Aziz.
Under the project, the customs clearance and immigration of Pakistani pilgrims will be completed at Pakistani airports before their departure for Hajj in order to save them from a long wait at Saudi airports.
During the recent visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to Islamabad, PM Imran had requested him to include Pakistan in the Road to Makkah project. Responding to the request, the Saudi authorities announced that immigration formalities for the Pakistani pilgrims would be performed in their country.
The pilot project of the Road to Makkah programme has been started from the Islamabad airport this year and will be extended to other airports of the country in subsequent years.
