RIYADH: The first group of Pakistani pilgrims performing Hajj as part of the Makkah Route initiative left Islamabad airport for the Kingdom on Wednesday, Saudi Press Agency reported. The Makkah Route initiative is part of Saudi Arabias Guests of God Service Program, and seeks to provide visitors to the holy sites with the finest possible services to help them perform their Hajj rituals easily and comfortably. Pakistani Hajj 2022 pilgrims are seen at Islamabad airport on Wednesday. (SPA) Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Mufti Abdul Shakoor were in attendance to see pilgrims off at the airport. Al-Maliki said that the Kingdom’s government is keen to take care of pilgrims, support them, and ease their pilgrimage. “The Makkah Route initiative, now in its fourth year, is part of the Guests of God Service Program - a Saudi Vision 2030 scheme,” Al-Maliki explained. Pakistani Hajj 2022 pilgrims are seen at Islamabad airport on Wednesday. (SPA) He added that Pakistan is one of the five countries covered by the program and that it aims to finalize all departure and entry visa procedures as well as hotel bookings in pilgrims’ home countries. Mufti Abdul Shakoor thanked the Saudi leadership for including Pakistan in the Makkah Route initiative and said it shows the Kingdom’s keenness to ensure the comfort and wellbeing of pilgrims during their Hajj journey.