Over 30,000 Lahore pilgrims to complete Saudi immigration before departure

LAHORE: More than 30,000 Hajj pilgrims leaving from Lahore this year will travel under the Road to Makkah initiative, under which Saudi immigration formalities are completed at the departure airport in Pakistan.

According to officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the arrangement enables pilgrims to avoid lengthy waiting times after landing in Saudi Arabia and proceed directly to their accommodation in Makkah or Madinah.

The officials said that baggage checked in at Lahore airport is sent straight to pilgrims at their residences in Saudi Arabia, removing the need for them to collect luggage after arrival.

Saudi immigration completed in Pakistan

Ministry officials said a key feature of the initiative is the presence of Saudi immigration personnel at selected airports in Pakistan, including Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. These teams assist pilgrims during the travel process and are trained in Arabic and familiar with Hajj operations.

Under the programme, pilgrims receive Saudi entry stamps on their passports in Pakistan. As a result, they do not have to go through further immigration or customs procedures on arrival in Jeddah or Madinah, the officials said.

They added that after landing in Saudi Arabia, pilgrims are transported without delay to their designated accommodation, helping them avoid queues and congestion at the airports there.

Programme expanded to Lahore

Officials said the Road to Makkah initiative is being extended gradually to more cities in view of the rising number of pilgrims. The facility was first introduced in Islamabad, later expanded to Karachi, and has now been implemented in Lahore.

Authorities also said dedicated Saudi teams stationed at each participating airport are responsible for guiding pilgrims and helping ensure a smooth travel process.

The initiative is expected to benefit all pilgrims departing from Lahore under the scheme this year, with officials saying the pre-clearance process will simplify arrival procedures in Saudi Arabia and reduce delays for travellers undertaking the annual pilgrimage.