Saudi Interior Ministry: 300,000 pilgrims reach KSA via Makkah Route Initiative

Jeddah-INA
 
The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the entry of 300,000 pilgrims through Makkah Route initiative, while extending an invitation to countries to join the initiative in the coming years.

Director of the General Administration of Media and Institutional Communication and the security spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior, Colonel Talal bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Shalhoub,, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that ' Makkah Route initiative, in its sixth year, has been successfully implemented with the participation of seven countries, including Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Morocco, and Tunisia.'

 He pointed out that 'this initiative aims to fulfill all the requirements of the pilgrims to the Holy Kaaba while they are in their own countries, through procedures that involve selecting airports, sorting pilgrims' luggage, and ensuring receiving them before their arrival in the Kingdom. The luggage is kept in the designated hotels' rooms, in addition to receiving them differently inside the airports in the Kingdom.'"

He pointed out that 'the initiative provides extensive services for the pilgrims, all of which are conducted electronically and in coordination with their respective countries,' explaining that 'the initiative began as an experiment in one country and then expanded. Today, in its sixth year, seven countries have joined, and some of these countries, such as Indonesia, Turkey, and Pakistan, have designated two or three airports for transporting pilgrims.'
 
Colonel Shalhoub urged all countries to join the Hajj Route initiative and benefit from the facilitation of procedures by applying to the Saudi embassy. Afterward, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would contact the responsible authority for Hajj affairs in the country to agree on implementing this initiative, as there is a specialized facility supported by a Saudi team. He also mentioned that 'so far, 300,000 pilgrims have arrived through the Hajj Route initiative, and the journeys are still ongoing.