'Road to Makkah' project to be effective from this year: minister

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Privatization and Aviation Mohammed Mian Soomro here on Thursday announced that ‘Road to Makkah’ project would be effective from 2019 and added that Pakistani pilgrims, in the current year, to be facilitated under the project.

Addressing a press confrence at Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Headquarter in Karachi, Mohammed Mian Soomro said that under the project all immigration requirements would be fulfilled at the airport of origin and added that the pilgrims would not have to make queue in Saudi Arabia for immigration process.

He said that the government was in contact with Riyadh to facilitate the pilgrims on return and added that they were reviewing the bilateral projects with Gulf Air.

The minister said that under the new aviation policy, space created for new airlines and added that discussions were underway with Air France and Kuwait Airways for restoration of their flight operations in Pakistan.

He said that they were bringing revolutionary reforms in Pakistan International Airlines and added that the national flag carrier would become a profitable organization within three years.

Earlier, the Saudi authorities had decided to add Pakistan in its pre-departure immigration facility under the ‘Road to Makkah project’, sources had said on April 4.

The delegation of Saudi officials had arrived here to hold talks with Pakistani officials, sources had said.

Pakistani officials had requested the Saudi authorities for considering addition of five Pakistani airports in Road to Makkah project.

The Saudi officials had selected Islamabad and Karachi airports as pilot project for the pre-departure immigration facility, sources had further said.