Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, met with Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, in Jeddah on March 26, 2025, to discuss the expansion of the Makkah Route Initiative to additional Pakistani cities. This initiative streamlines immigration processes by allowing pilgrims to complete travel formalities at their departure airports. Initially launched in Islamabad in 2019 and later extended to Karachi, the program has benefited tens of thousands of Pakistani travelers.
During the meeting, both ministers emphasized enhancing facilities for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Sardar Yousaf praised Saudi authorities for their dedication to the welfare of Pakistani pilgrims, while Dr. Al-Rabiah reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to serving pilgrims, highlighting that accommodating large numbers of Pakistani pilgrims annually is an honor and a top priority for the Saudi government.
Discussions also addressed the registration process for Pakistani pilgrims. Dr. Al-Rabiah assured that concerns of Pakistani Hajj applicants would be addressed promptly and mentioned the introduction of several new measures this year to improve services for pilgrims.
