Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Makkah Route Initiative memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday, paving the way for Pakistanis to benefit from an initiative aimed at facilitating Hajj pilgrims from across the Muslim world.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Dr. Nasser bin Abdul Aziz Al-Dawood, Saudi deputy interior minister, inked the MoU in a televised ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers, and Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan.
The Makkah Route Initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s Guests of God Service Program, which King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud inaugurated in 2019 under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to diversify the economy. Under the scheme, Hajj pilgrims go through immigration facilities at their respective countries’ airports.
Earlier, in a ceremony held to honor the Saudi deputy interior minister who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan, Sanaullah said he has requested Saudi authorities to extend the Makkah Route Initiative to airports in Lahore and Karachi next year.
“His excellency [Saudi deputy interior minister] has promised that the number of Pakistani pilgrims who are traveling from Islamabad through Makkah Route Initiative will be increased from 26,000 to 40,000 and for next year, I and the minister of religious affairs have requested to provide this facility from Lahore and Karachi as well,” Sanaullah said.
Sanaullah said during his meeting with the Saudi deputy interior minister, both representatives discussed matters of mutual interest and issues concerning the two countries, including the assassination of a Saudi diplomat in Karachi in 2011.
“We have discussed the Saudi government’s demands on the sad case of a Saudi diplomat who was killed in Pakistan,” the minister said. He added Pakistan has also requested the kingdom to release Pakistanis languishing in Saudi jails for petty crimes.
“We have discussed the release of Pakistani prisoners who are detained in [Saudi] jails for small offenses and the worthy deputy interior minister assured us that all those Pakistanis will be released soon who did not commit any serious crime,” he added.
Sanaullah said Pakistan would eagerly wait for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the South Asian country.
“I, Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Mohammed Shahbaz Sharif, and the people of Pakistan pay tribute and good wishes to King Salman and look forward to the visit of Saudi Prime Minister and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman to Pakistan,” he added.
Addressing the ceremony, the Saudi deputy interior minister said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed historic relations and the people of both countries regard it with respect.
“We wish and hope that our bilateral relations will prosper more, and I pray to the Almighty for a better future for Pakistan,” he said, adding that both sides had meaningful discussions during his visit.
Saudi Arabia restored Pakistan’s pre-pandemic Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims earlier this year and eliminated the age restriction of 65.
Authorities estimate approximately 80,000 Pakistani pilgrims will participate in Hajj this year under the government scheme, while over 91,000 will use private tour operators.
As per the Pakistani religious affairs ministry, Hajj flights from the country will commence on May 21, with the final flight departing for Saudi Arabia on June 21.
