KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Nawaf Saeed A Al Maliky in their meeting at CM House discussed the Route to Makkah Project and agreed to fulfil all the requirements at the earliest to implement the project.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Federal Secretary Atta ur Rehman, PSCM Agha Wasif, Secretary of Hajj and Umerah Mohammad M. Albejawi of Saudi Arabia and others.

The Route to Makkah project is a mechanism for shifting the immigration and customs clearance process from Saudi Arabia to airports of Pakistan aimed at relieving Hujjaj from the ordeal of immigration and customs clearance upon landing at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

The chief minister said that the project was very important and he was keen to see it implemented for the Hujjaj of Sindh at Jinnah Terminal. Ambassador Mr Nawaf Saeed Al Malky congratulated Syed Murad Ali Shah on taking over as Sindh Chief Minister for the third time.

The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia told the CM that the pilot project of 'The Route to Makkah initiative was implemented in 2019 at Islamabad International Airport. In 2019 22,000 Hujjaj travelled through this project. In Hajj 2022 and 2023 Route to Makkah Project was again implemented through Islamabad Airport and 15,629 and 26,546 Hujjaj travelled through it.

After successful completion, the Prime Minister's Office directed for up-scaling of the said initiative to other four airports - Karachi, Lahore Quetta and Peshawar. Efforts were made to extend the project, however, the MOU between both Governments was signed on 17th May 2023.

It was discussed that several meetings were held with stakeholders in the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony to deliberate upon the requirements of Saudi Authorities and action to be taken by all Ministries/Divisions/Departments. Finally, after agreement/ consensus on commitment/action plan, the readiness for extension of the project to International Airports in Karachi and Lahore was conveyed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 31 October 2023.

A delegation led Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan for upscaling of the Route to Makkah Project visited Jinnah International Airport yesterday (March 5) to survey the area to be allocated at the Airport and met with relevant authorities such as Customs, Immigration, ANF, ASF and CAA.

The CM was told that almost all the formalities had been completed to start the project. The CM thanked the Saudi Authorities and the ambassador for taking a personal interest in the implementation of the project.