ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said that he would requestthe Saudi government to extend Road-to-Makkah facility for all PakistaniHajj pilgrims in future.

In a briefing given to him on the Hajj operations by his Advisor MuhammadShahzad Arbab, the prime minister thanked the Saudi government forintroducing Road-to-Makkah facility to some Hajj pilgrims this year underwhich they went through pre-departure immigration at IslamabadInternational Airport easing procedures for them before landing in SaudiArabia, a PM Office statement said.

Shahzad Arbab had been especially tasked by the prime minister to overseethe Hajj operations who apprised him about the arrangements made tofacilitate the pilgrims before, during and after Hajj.

Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Nur-ul-Haq Qadri, secretary religiousaffairs, Secretary Foreign affairs and other senior officers also attendedthe briefing.

The prime minister was informed that around 22,000 Hajj pilgrims wereprovided Road-to-Makkah facility this year, who had to face noimmigration-related hassle after landing in Saudi Arabia.

Moreover, the Hajj mission had made arrangements to transport the pilgrims’luggage to their respective hotels.