The second phase of the Road to Makkah initiative kicked off as a flight carrying 310 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims from Islamabad landed at Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz International Airport, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. This was the first of 180 scheduled Hajj flights under the program.
Launched in 2019 and currently operating from Islamabad and Karachi, the Road to Makkah initiative allows pilgrims to complete Saudi immigration procedures in Pakistan before departure, reducing waiting times upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. Saudi immigration officers are stationed at Pakistani airports to process travelers before boarding.
At Jeddah airport, the pilgrims were welcomed by Minister of Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Pakistan’s Consul General Khalid Majid, DG Hajj Abdul Wahab Soomro, and other senior consulate officials. Bouquets were presented to the arriving pilgrims.
This year, around 50,500 pilgrims will travel under the initiative—28,000 from Islamabad and 22,500 from Karachi—via 180 flights, with 100 flights from Islamabad and 80 from Karachi. Comprehensive arrangements for accommodation and support services, including medical staff and ministry personnel, have been put in place.
Earlier in April, Saudi immigration officials had arrived in Pakistan to facilitate pre-departure processing at Islamabad and Karachi airports. For 2025, Pakistan’s total Hajj quota stands at 179,210, with half allocated to private operators. However, only 23,000 pilgrims are availing services through private operators this year.
