Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, said that the Federal government has finalised its Hajj arrangements for 2026 by introducing a new Hajj policy. He said that we are completely following the new policy aligned with rules set by Saudi authorities and aimed at improving services for pilgrims.
Speaking to state-run Radio Pakistan, the minister said Pakistan’s Hajj quota is 179,210 pilgrims. Of these, around 120,000 places have been reserved for those travelling under the government scheme, while the remaining quota of around 60,000 will be handled by private tour operators.
Promoting digitalisation
According to the Minister for Religious Affairs, the government has placed a strong focus on digital systems. These include online applications, electronic tracking of services and a complaint mechanism to address issues during the pilgrimage. Pilgrims will also be able to choose between long and short Hajj packages, depending on their needs and budgets.
He added that the government is also working to expand the “Route to Makkah” facility to Lahore. The initiative allows pilgrims to complete immigration and other travel formalities at their departure airport in Pakistan, reducing waiting times on arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Special attention to last year pilgirms
Mr Yousaf said special attention has been given to people who were unable to perform Hajj last year under the private scheme. He added that preparations for Hajj 2026 have already begun, with mandatory training sessions being held across the country to guide pilgrims on rituals, travel and health requirements.
The announcement follows problems during the previous Hajj season, when a significant portion of Pakistan’s private quota for 2025 went unused. The minister said that the government was able to send its full allocation of more than 88,000 pilgrims, while many private operators failed to meet payment and registration deadlines. Tour operators blamed technical issues, including problems with payment systems and communication gaps.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has formally asked Saudi Arabia to increase its Hajj quota. The government has requested a rise to 230,000 pilgrims, citing the country’s population of around 240 million and growing demand for the pilgrimage.
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