Pakistan, May 15 -- Over 300 Pakistani Haj pilgrims arrived in Jeddah as the second phase of the Road to Makkah initiative officially commenced on Thursday. The first of 180 planned Hajj flights from Pakistan, carrying 310 pilgrims, landed at King Abdul Aziz International Airport from Islamabad. This marks a continued effort to ease the pilgrimage journey for thousands of Muslims traveling from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.

The Road to Makkah initiative, launched in 2019 at Islamabad airport and later extended to Karachi, allows pilgrims to complete Saudi immigration in Pakistan before departure. This streamlines their entry into Saudi Arabia, reducing hassle and delays. A Saudi immigration team is stationed at Pakistani airports to facilita...