ISLAMABAD: A high-level delegation of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday visited Islamabad International Airport along with the director general immigration to review facilities for the ‘Road to Makkah’ project, ARY News reported.
The delegation was briefed about departure of Hajj pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia.
The director general Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Customs and Immigration were also present on this occasion.
The delegation of Saudi Arabia said immigration of 90 percent of the Hajj pilgrims would be completed in Pakistan under the ‘Road to Makkah’ project.
Separate counters will be established at the Karachi and Islamabad airports for immigration to Saudi Arabia, they were briefed.
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“In the first phase, the pilgrims will be given pre-clearance at the Karachi and Islamabad airports,” they were told.
Consultations are underway to make the ‘Road to Makkah’ project applicable.
The Saudi Arabian delegation will visit airports of Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore as well.
A 14-member delegation from Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry had arrived in Islamabad on April 1 to review arrangements related to ‘Road to Makkah’ project.
The project was initiated to assist Hajj pilgrims wherein all immigration requirements will be fulfilled at the airport of origin.
At present, the facility was only available at Karachi airport where pilgrims go through the immigration and customs checking once and then they would not have to pass through the same process after landing at airports in Saudi Arabia.
