Islamabad, July 4, 2019, SPA -- The first flight of Pakistani pilgrims benefiting from Makkah Road Initiative 1440AH was launched from Islamabad International Airport of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in the presence of Pakistani Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Noor-ul-Haq Qadri; Pakistani Minister of Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan; and Head of Special Saudi Delegation and Director General of Passports Major General Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Yahya; Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki and a number of officials. On this occasion, Pakistani Minister of Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan delivered a speech in which he praised the deep-rooted historical relationship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, praising the Kingdom's efforts in launching this initiative, which is being applied for the first time in Pakistan this year. For his part, the Pakistani Minister for Religious Affairs praised in a similar speech the great care being provided for Pakistani pilgrims throughout the year, whether in Hajj or Umrah, and expressed his thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense for their great services to Islam and Muslims, including the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their Muslim visitors who are eager to visit them from all over the world. --SPA 14:41 LOCAL TIME 11:41 GMT 0013 www.spa.gov.sa/w1131284