RIYADH: The Makkah Route initiative operating at airports in Pakistan and Morocco benefited many pilgrims preparing for Hajj this year, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Saturday. The stations are located in Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan and Casablanca Mohammed V International in Morocco.
This initiative aims to provide services to pilgrims by assisting with their entry procedures into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from the airports of their respective nations. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in 2019 launched the Makkah Route Initiative to help Hajj pilgrims from seven nations —Pakistan, Morocco, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Turkiye and Ivory Coast — with their visa, customs and passport requirements.
The government program issues visas electronically and collects biometric data, carrying out all travel procedures at the airports of the nations of departure, including ensuring that pilgrims have a clean bill of health. Baggage is coded and sorted to meet the accommodation and transport arrangements while pilgrims are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
