ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf on Monday said that Saudi Arabia has approved an additional 10,000 slots for Pakistani Hajj pilgrims under the private Hajj scheme.
Speaking at the Hajj Conference, the religious affairs minister reiterated the government’s dedication to providing a smooth and well-organised Hajj experience for Pakistani pilgrims this year.
The minister stated that the Ministry has made the best arrangements for the pilgrimage and emphasised that there will be zero tolerance for any shortcomings.
“I travelled to Saudi Arabia myself to personally review the preparations,” Minister Yousaf said.
He said that, through joint efforts with the Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, they worked to secure the restoration of a quota for 67,000 pilgrims.
Minister Yousaf said that thanks to the endeavours of the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, an additional quota of 10,000 pilgrims was allocated to Pakistan.
“Initially, Saudi authorities had indicated a quota of 102,000, but upon my request to reconsider sympathetically, they granted us an additional 10,000 slots,” he explained.
He clarified that the additional quota was granted exclusively to private Hajj operators and warned against the spread of misinformation about any further increases in the quota.
“If Saudi Arabia allows pilgrims from other countries who missed deadlines, Pakistani pilgrims will surely also be accommodated,” he said.
He noted that any policy changes will apply equally to all countries, including Pakistan.
“If pilgrims from other countries are permitted to perform Hajj despite missing deadlines, Pakistanis will not be left behind,” he assured.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi urged the pilgrims to abide by Saudi laws.
He asked the pilgrims to refrain from indulging in political activities and debates and focus on performing prayers during Hajj.
The annual Islamic pilgrimage is scheduled to take place in June this year.
In January, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Hajj Agreement 2025, under which Pakistan was allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims, to be equally divided between the government and private Hajj schemes.
