Pakistan to expand Makkah Route Initiative to more cities

Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, announced on Sunday that the Makkah Route Initiative will be extended to additional cities across the country for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.

The Makkah Route Initiative is a collaborative program with Saudi Arabia that simplifies travel for pilgrims by allowing them to complete immigration and customs procedures at their departure airports in Pakistan. Launched in Islamabad in 2019 and later expanded to Karachi, the initiative has significantly reduced arrival processing times in the Kingdom, allowing pilgrims to bypass immigration upon landing.

Minister Yousaf made the announcement following a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, to discuss preparations for Hajj 2025. According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, both sides reviewed arrangements and expressed a shared commitment to enhancing the pilgrim experience.

“The scope of the Road to Makkah project will be extended to other cities of Pakistan for the next (2026) Hajj,” Yousaf said, as quoted by the ministry.

He expressed gratitude to the Saudi government for its ongoing efforts to introduce innovations and improved services for Hajj pilgrims, particularly from Pakistan. “The best facilities of food, transport, and accommodation are being provided to Pakistani pilgrims,” he noted.

In response, Minister Al-Rabiah affirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to delivering exceptional services at key Hajj sites. “A large number of pilgrims come from Pakistan. It is an honor to serve them,” he said, pledging top-tier facilities at Mina and Arafah.

This year’s Hajj rituals are set to begin on June 4, with the Day of Arafah observed on June 5 and Eid Al-Adha on June 6 in Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan successfully concluded its 33-day pre-Hajj flight operation on Saturday, transporting over 115,000 pilgrims to the Kingdom in preparation for the annual pilgrimage.