KARACHI – Pilgrims leaving for this year’s Hajj via Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport could get their immigration in Pakistan instead of queuing up in Saudi Arabia.
Special counters are being set up at the airport in Karachi for the ‘Road to Makkah’ initiative, which has been officially extended to this city.
When arrangements are finalized, Hajj pilgrims will no longer need to undergo immigration procedures at Jeddah and Medina airports in Saudi Arabia.
In this regard, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has designated space for two dedicated counters that would serve pilgrims departing from Karachi Airport.
Days earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the extension of the ‘Road to Mecca’ project to Karachi airport after a high-level delegation from the holy kingdom inspected the airport.
The “Road to Mecca” initiative, which is an integral part of Saudi Arabia’s program of serving God’s guests, aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy and, as part of this, pilgrims undergo immigration procedures at the airports of their respective countries.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs had previously expressed its intention to extend the “Road to Mecca” initiative to Lahore and Karachi airports; the facility is only available at Islamabad International Airport at the moment.
The CAA has announced that Pakistani Hajj pilgrims will not undergo the immigration process at Jeddah airport this year if they have completed the procedure at Lahore and Karachi airports.
As for this year’s Hajj, the total number of seats allocated to Pakistan for the upcoming Hajj is around 180,000, but this also includes the seats allocated to private Hajj operators.
To attract applicants, the government also allowed those who had performed Hajj in the last 5 years to apply for the next Hajj. The authorities have introduced the Short Hajj package for pilgrims while the sponsorship program is also valid this year.
As for the Long Hajj, it would consist of 38 to 42 days, including 8 days of stay in Madinah and those coming from the southern region, i.e. Karachi, and Sukkhur would have to pay Rs 10,65,000 while those other cities i.e. Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, Sialkot, Faisalabad would pay Rs 10,75,000.
Applicants for the sponsorship program can expect to pay $3,765 in the South region, while those opting for the Long Haj can expect to pay $3,800 in the North region
For the Short Hajj package, the cost for regular Hajj applicants is Rs 11,40,000 for the South region while the cost is Rs 11,50,000 for the North region; Hajj would continue for 20 to 25 days under this program.
For the sponsorship program, the forfeit of the short Hajj is US$4,015 for the South region and $4,050 for the North region. This year’s pilgrimage will take place from June 14 to 19.)
