Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement for the execution of the "Road to Makkah” project, aimed at simplifying the immigration process for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. The signing took place at the Prime Minister House during the visit of Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Interior Minister, Dr. Nasir Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Dawood. The agreement was witnessed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Ambassador in Islamabad, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, while Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah and the Saudi deputy interior minister signed the document.
The "Road to Makkah” project will provide immigration facilities for Pakistani Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in Pakistan, exempting them from the immigration process at Saudi airports. Initially, the service will be available at Islamabad International Airport, benefiting around 26,000 pilgrims in the first phase. The Saudi authorities assured that the facility would later be extended to Karachi and Lahore airports.
In addition, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed joint minutes of the meeting to address the issuance of Pakistani passports to Burmese Muslims residing in Saudi Arabia. The Burmese Muslims’ passports were not renewed after 2012, causing difficulties for them in the Kingdom. Under the arrangement, passports will be issued to the Burmese Muslims and their children to improve their legal status in Saudi Arabia. A bilateral committee will be formed to work out the early issuance of the documents to the Burmese Muslims, consisting of representatives from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s interior ministry.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Saudi dignitary exchanged souvenirs during the signing ceremony, further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries.
