The Road to Makkah project is coming to Karachi

KARACHI:

A delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, consisting of 44 employees from the Immigration and Technical Departments of the KSA, arrived in the metropolis to launch the ‘Road to Makkah’ project.

Director and Deputy Director Hajj, officials of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Airport Security Force (ASF) and others warmly welcomed the guests.

The immigration of pilgrims leaving Karachi for Hijaz for the first time will take place at the Jinnah Terminal Airport. The Civil Aviation Authority (Pakistan) has established eight counters near Gate No. 24 in the international departure lounge exclusively for the Saudi immigration authorities, who will install their own immigration system. The first pre-Hajj flight is scheduled to depart on May 9.

The immigration process for a total of 19,231 pilgrims from Karachi, Sukkur and Quetta will take place at Karachi Airport. Hajj Director Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah has arranged for the pilgrims to be provided with an 8.5GB SIM card, which will have certain restrictions such as blocking access to YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. In addition, a code will be affixed to their luggage, ensuring hassle-free transfer to the designated accommodation in the holy land.

Upon arrival, the Saudi delegation was warmly received by Director Hajj Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah and Deputy Director Hajj Gulzar Ahmed Soomro, as well as senior officials from the CAA, ASF and other relevant organizations.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Pakistan has established eight Saudi immigration counters at Karachi airport. To facilitate their activities, a designated area near Gate No. 24 in the International Departure Lounge has been assigned to the Saudi authorities. This space will house eight counters where Saudi staff and IT experts will install their immigration equipment.

It is important to mention that this year the Saudi immigration staff will be responsible for handling the immigration process of Hajj pilgrims at Karachi Airport as part of the ‘Road to Makkah’ project as Karachi Airport is included in the Road to Makkah project for this year.

Under the project, the immigration process for 16,200 Hajj pilgrims from Karachi, 750 from Sukkur and 2,200 from Quetta will take place at Karachi airport.

After the training sessions, the Directorate of Hajj Karachi is diligently carrying out the vaccination and inoculation process. This preventive measure, implemented under the government plan, takes place five days before the flight to the Hajj and aims to protect pilgrims from possible diseases during the pilgrimage.

Hundreds of pilgrims, both men and women, visit the Haji camp in Karachi every day in this regard.

Those embarking on their Hajj journey from Karachi will collect their passports, maps, bags and other personal items from Haji camp two days before their departure.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^e2024.