Islamabad: The first flight carrying beneficiaries of the Makkah Route Initiative departed today from the initiative's lounge at Islamabad International Airport in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, heading to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the initiative aims to provide services to pilgrims from beneficiary countries by receiving them and completing their procedures in their home countries with ease. This process starts from biometric data collection and electronic Hajj visa issuance, and ends with completing passport procedures at the departure country's airport after verifying health requirements. Another service includes coding and sorting of baggage according to transportation and accommodation arrangements in the Kingdom, and transferring passengers directly to buses to their accommodation in Makkah and Madinah via dedicated routes, while partner entities deliver their baggage.

The Ministry of Interior is implementing the initiative in its eighth year in cooperation with the ministries of foreign affairs, health, Hajj and Umrah, and media, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), the General Authority for Awqaf, the Pilgrim Experience Program, the General Directorate of Passports, and stc Group. Since its launch in 2017, the initiative has served 1,254,994 pilgrims.