RIYADH: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq expressed deep appreciation for the Kingdom’s dedication to enhancing the Hajj experience for pilgrims. He commended the Makkah Route Initiative, highlighting its positive effect on Pakistani pilgrims in previous years and its expansion in 2024 to include Karachi and Islamabad international airports. Farooq emphasized the program’s role in simplifying travel procedures, making the journey to Makkah “free of hassle, easy and convenient” for Pakistani pilgrims. The Makkah Route Initiative is one of several projects in the Ministry of Interior’s Pilgrim Experience Program under Saudi Vision 2030. Now in its sixth year, the initiative involves the collaboration of several entities, such as the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, as well as the ministries of foreign affairs, health, media, and Hajj and Umrah. Services include the issuing of electronic Hajj visas, biometric data collection, completion of passport procedures in special lounges at departure airports, ensuring health requirements are met, and efficient luggage tagging and sorting. After arrival in the Kingdom, pathways are assigned, and partner agencies ensure delivery of pilgrims’ luggage to their accommodation.