UCP hails ‘Road to Makkah’ project, demands extension to Faisalabad

Ulema Council Pakistan (UCP) Chairman Sahibzada Zahid Mahmood Qasmi paid tribute to the government of Saudi Arabia for successful launch of “Road to Makkah” project at Allama Iqbal International Airport and termed it a major facility for Hajj pilgrims and a reflection of exemplary bilateral ties between the two countries

FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Apr, 2026) Ulema Council Pakistan (UCP) Chairman Sahibzada Zahid Mahmood Qasmi paid tribute to the government of Saudi Arabia for successful launch of “Road to Makkah” project at Allama Iqbal International Airport and termed it a major facility for Hajj pilgrims and a reflection of exemplary bilateral ties between the two countries.

In a statement, he congratulated King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Minister for Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki on the successful initiative.

He said that “Road to Makkah” project has significantly reduced difficulties faced by Pakistani pilgrims, adding that both the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony deserve appreciation for facilitating pilgrims through streamlined immigration processes within Pakistan.

Sahibzada Zahid Qasmi demanded that scope of the project, currently operational in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, should also be extended to Faisalabad in the coming years.

He said that Faisalabad, formerly known as Lyallpur, shares a historic bond with Saudi Arabia. The city was named after late Saudi King Faisal bin Abdulaziz in recognition of strong Pakistan-Saudi ties, he added.

Highlighting importance of the city, he said that Faisalabad and its surrounding areas have a population of around 10 million, with thousands of people traveling for Hajj every year.

He said that the people of Faisalabad have deep religious affinity with Saudi Arabia and deserve the same facilitation as pilgrims from other major cities.

He hoped that the Saudi leadership would consider this public demand and strategic importance of Faisalabad and include it in the “Road to Makkah” project in future to further ease the pilgrimage process for local residents.