Saudi authorities have approved the expansion of the Makkah Route initiative to the Karachi airport, Pakistani officials said on Monday.
The announcement came one day after a two-member delegation from Saudi Arabia visited the Jinnah International Airport in the southern Pakistani city to inspect facilities and discuss arrangements for the pilgrims.
For the past few years, Pakistani pilgrims performing Hajj under the government scheme have been utilizing this facility at Islamabad airport, and the government aims to extend this initiative to other cities as well.
Saifullah, a spokesperson for the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), confirmed, “The Saudis have approved Jinnah International Airport Karachi.”
It is anticipated that more than 60 percent of pilgrims performing Hajj this year will benefit from this initiative. Additionally, individuals opting for the private Hajj scheme can also take advantage of the facility, provided that their tour operators have coordinated with the Pakistani religious ministry.
Saudi Arabia reinstated Pakistan’s pre-pandemic Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims last year and removed the upper age limit of 65 years. In 2023, over 81,000 Pakistani pilgrims performed Hajj under the government scheme, while the remainder utilized private tour operators.
This year’s pilgrimage is scheduled to take place from June 14 to June 19.
What is Makkah Route Initiative?
Established in 2018 and officially launched in 2019, the Makkah Route Initiative represents a groundbreaking program designed to elevate the pilgrimage journey for worshippers hailing from Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, Bangladesh, Turkey, and the Ivory Coast. By streamlining the pilgrimage process, this initiative ensures pilgrims can wholeheartedly focus on fulfilling one of their most sacred obligations.
Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, pilgrims and their belongings are swiftly transported directly to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah, bypassing lengthy airport queues and wait times. Pilgrims arriving through this initiative spend mere minutes at Saudi immigration counters.
