ISLAMABAD: A high-level Saudi delegation headed by the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, met with Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday.
The 16-member delegation included Muhammad Abdul Rahman M. Al-Bajawi, Secretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Abdul Moneim Abdul Rahman S. Al-Mahmood, Director of Hajj and Awqaf Administration in the Ministry of Interior, and other key officials.
Chief Secretary Sindh Dr. Fakhar Alam, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Principal Secretary Agha Wasif, Secretary Awqaf and Religious Affairs and others were present with the Chief Minister Sindh.
Federal Secretary Atta-ur-Rehman and Joint Secretary (Hajj) Sajjad Haider Yaldar were also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki congratulated Syed Murad Ali Shah on assuming the post of Chief Minister.
In the meeting, the Road to Makkah project was thoroughly discussed. A detailed briefing was given to CM Murad Ali Shah regarding the Road to Makkah project, the spokesperson of the Chief Minister of Sindh said.
The Road to Makkah project aims to facilitate the immigration and customs clearance process at airports for Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan. The project was launched in Pakistan in 2019. The pilot project of the Road to Makkah initiative was launched in 2019 at Islamabad International Airport.
In 2019, a total of 22,000 Hajj pilgrims got ease of travel through the project. In Hajj 2022 and 2023, the Road to Makkah project was implemented at the Islamabad Airport. In 2022, 15,629 pilgrims and 2023, 26,546 pilgrims traveled through the project, the Sindh Chief Minister was informed.
Delegation Assures CM Sindh
Syed Murad Ali Shah urged that the project should also be started at Karachi Airport. Which, the Saudi officials assured him that it would be launched at Karachi Airport soon.
It is to be noted that an MoU was signed between the two governments on May 17, 2023, for the expansion of the Road to Makkah project. On October 31, 2023, it was agreed to expand the project at Karachi and Lahore airports.
To expand the project, a high-level delegation visited Karachi Airport on Tuesday and inspected the facilities. They met with the relevant authorities including Customs, Immigration, ANF, ASF and CAA officers at the airport.
#اسلام آباد | عزت مآب وزیر اعلی سندھ سید مراد علی شاہ نے اپنے دفتر میں پاکستان میں خادم حرمین شریفین کے سفیر جناب نواف المالکی اور ان کے ہمراہ آنے والے وفد کا استقبال کیا، جہاں دونوں کے درمیان دوستانہ گفتگو ہوئی۔ ملاقات میں مشترکہ دلچسپی کے امور پر تبادلہ خیال کیا گیا۔ pic.twitter.com/jXOyBkMjKi
— السفارة في باكستان – سعودی سفارت خانہ (@KSAembassyPK) March 6, 2024
