KARACHI: Saudi Arabia’s ‘Road to Makkah’ Initiative continues to offer its efficient services to Pakistani pilgrims in Karachi for the second year, enabling thousands of pilgrims to complete immigration and health formalities at Jinnah International Airport before departure.
The Road to Makkah Initiative of the Saudi Ministry of Interior is continuing for the seventh year under the Saudi Vision 2030 programme, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday.
Under the project, pilgrims departing from Karachi benefit from comprehensive services starting at the initiative lounge at Jinnah International Airport, where their entry procedures to Saudi Arabia are seamlessly completed.
These services encompass verifying health requirements, issuing electronic visas, tagging luggage, and completing all essential entry procedures.
Dedicated Saudi teams, made up of representatives from various agencies, are responsible for executing these tasks, ensuring that pilgrims experience peace of mind from the moment they depart until their arrival in Saudi Arabia.
As the Hajj season approaches, the Roads General Authority (RGA) has finalised its extensive preparations to ensure smooth and safe travel for pilgrims across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Specialised teams are deployed throughout the road network to provide a comfortable and secure journey for all visitors.
The road sector is a vital facilitator for Hajj and Umrah, and the Roads General Authority coordinates and regulates this essential sector through appropriate policies and legislation, striving to achieve strategic ambitions focused on safety, quality, and traffic management.
Meanwhile, the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Saudi Arabia has launched numerous digital tools to boost the experience of pilgrims during the Hajj season.
The initiative is designed to communicate the universal message of Hajj and promote its Shariah objectives in multiple languages.
This year, the annual pilgrimage is expected to take place in June. While the exact number of pilgrims for Hajj 2025 is yet to be confirmed, early projections indicate it could be a record-breaking year, with more than 2.5 million pilgrims expected to participate.
