First Makkah Route Flights Touch Down in Madinah
he first flight carrying Pakistani beneficiaries of the Makkah Route initiative landed at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah arriving from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.
Saudi Arabia has allocated a quota of 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims for this year’s Hajj season, with around 118,000 seats under the government scheme and the remainder through private operators. Officials from Sindh, including Gov. Nehal Hashmi, saw off the pilgrims; 160 travellers departed in the initial group amid prayers and well-wishes, according to the Sindh Hajj Directorate.
The initiative also saw arrivals from other participating countries. A flight carrying Bangladeshi pilgrims landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah from Dhaka, while additional groups from Malaysia and Türkiye reached Madinah on Saturday as part of the expanding programme.
The first Indian Hajj group was also received at Madinah Airport by Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan and Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, alongside Saudi and Indian officials, who reviewed reception facilities and support services.
Now in its eighth consecutive year, the Makkah Route initiative is implemented across 17 entry points in 10 countries, including new additions Senegal and Brunei Darussalam. The programme aims to streamline the Hajj journey by completing visa issuance, passport control, and health verification procedures in pilgrims’ home countries before departure.
Saudi authorities say the initiative, part of the Pilgrim Experience Program under Vision 2030, is designed to ensure a smoother, faster, and more efficient arrival process, supported by advanced systems and trained personnel at entry points.
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