ISLAMABAD, April 4: The Saudi Arabia authorities have decided to include Pakistan in its pre-departure immigration facility under the Road to Makkah project on Thursday.
According to the details garnered, the delegation of Saudi officials arrived here to hold talks with Pakistani officials, has left after completing the visit.
Pakistani officials have requested the Saudi authorities for considering addition of five Pakistani airports in Road to Makkah project.
The Saudi officials have selected Islamabad and Karachi airports as pilot project for the pre-departure immigration facility, it said.
However, the Saudi delegation has expressed satisfaction over the security, customs, immigration, airlines and civil aviation arrangements at Pakistani airports. The Saudi government will decide about inclusion of other airports of Pakistan in the project.
Pakistan has requested for addition of the airports of Lahore, Multan and Peshawar in the project. Pakistani pilgrims will now have immigration clearance done in Pakistani airports and they will not have to pass through immigration and custom checking after landing at airports in Saudi Arabia.
The “Road to Makkah” project will initially applicable only to the Hajj flights. The Saudi delegation during its stay in Pakistan called on Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri and conveyed a message of goodwill of Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud. – Agencies
