The federal government would expand the ‘Road to Makkah’ project to include Karachi airport, Caretaker Religious Minister Aneeq Ahmed said on Thursday, as his ministry has finalised the Hajj policy.

“An announcement will soon be made after the approval from the federal cabinet,” he told Aaj News. “The’Road to Makkah project will now also begin from Karachi.”

Earlier this year, Islamabad and Riyadh signed an agreement to initiate the project. It was aimed at simplifying the immigration process for Pakistanis travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj and Umrah.

Under the agreement, intending pilgrims would be provided with immigration facilities in Pakistan and would be exempted from the process at Saudi airports.

The service is available at the Islamabad International Airport, where around 26,000 pilgrims benefitted from the facility.

Facilities for pilgrims have been increased, the interim religious minister said, adding: “Special scarves are being introduced for women pilgrims.”

He went on to add that pilgrims would be given briefcases with barcodes.

“A short-term Hajj is also being introduced. A package of 50 riyals will be given for unlimited calls,” he added.

More than 81,000 Pakistani pilgrims performed the annual spiritual pilgrimage under the government scheme this year while the rest from a total quota of 179,210 used private tour operators.