RAWALPINDI: A 39-member team of Saudi Arabia’s immigration and security officials arrived in Islamabad on Sunday to carry out immigration of Pakistani Haj pilgrims under the Road to Makkah project.

A senior official of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said that the Saudi officials arrived at the Islamabad International Airport on board a Saudi Airways flight SV-3722 from Jeddah.

During a recent visit of Saudi Crown Prince Moham­mad bin Salman’s to Islamabad, Prime Minister Imran Khan had requested the prince to let Pakistani Haj pilgrims undergo Saudi immigration and customs process in Islamabad before their departure for Saudi Arabia.

In line with that initiative, Haj pilgrims will get their Saudi immigration and customs clearance in Islamabad before their departure for Saudi Arabia from Pakistan at three major airports of the country.

In April this year, an eight-member Saudi delegation visited Islamabad and held talks with Pakistani immigration and Civil Aviation officials about arrangements to provide immigration facilities for Pakistani Haj pilgrims in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

IMF’s projections
Updated 18 Apr, 2024

IMF’s projections

The problems are well-known and the country is aware of what is needed to stabilise the economy; the challenge is follow-through and implementation.
Hepatitis crisis
18 Apr, 2024

Hepatitis crisis

THE sheer scale of the crisis is staggering. A new WHO report flags Pakistan as the country with the highest number...
Never-ending suffering
18 Apr, 2024

Never-ending suffering

OVER the weekend, the world witnessed an intense spectacle when Iran launched its drone-and-missile barrage against...
Saudi FM’s visit
Updated 17 Apr, 2024

Saudi FM’s visit

The government of Shehbaz Sharif will have to manage a delicate balancing act with Pakistan’s traditional Saudi allies and its Iranian neighbours.
Dharna inquiry
17 Apr, 2024

Dharna inquiry

THE Supreme Court-sanctioned inquiry into the infamous Faizabad dharna of 2017 has turned out to be a damp squib. A...
Future energy
17 Apr, 2024

Future energy

PRIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif’s recent directive to the energy sector to curtail Pakistan’s staggering $27bn oil...