Latest news with #HajjAgreement2025
Arab News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan says Saudi Arabia has granted additional 10,000 slots for private Hajj scheme
ISLAMABAD: Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said on Monday Saudi Arabia had granted Pakistan an additional 10,000 slots for Hajj pilgrims traveling under the private scheme. The annual Islamic pilgrimage is expected to take place this year in June. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Hajj Agreement 2025 in January, under which Pakistan was given a quota of 179,210 for the pilgrimage to be divided equally between government and private schemes. Nearly 90,000 Pakistanis are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme this year and 23,620 Pakistani were to perform Hajj through private tour operators, which means that over 60,000 slots from the total quota had remained unfilled. 'We have been allowed 10,000 more in the quota, this is not government but private quota,' Yousaf told reporters. The development has not yet been confirmed by Saudi authorities. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to probe why Pakistan had failed to use the full 179,210 quota for Hajj 2025. Hajj flight operations will begin from Apr. 29 with the first flight departing from Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. While a precise number for Hajj 2025 is difficult to determine in advance, projections suggest it will be a record-breaking year, with over 2.5 million pilgrims expected.
Arab News
18-04-2025
- Arab News
Training of 89,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims under government scheme in ‘final stages' — minister
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said on Friday the training of 89,000 pilgrims performing Hajj under the government scheme was in the 'final stages' to ensure they were fully aware of the rituals, logistics, and regulations associated with the annual pilgrimage. Hajj is expected to take place in June this year. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Hajj Agreement 2025 in January, under which Pakistan was given a quota of 179,210 pilgrims. This year, 89,000 people will perform Hajj under the government scheme and 23,620 with private tour operators. Each year ahead of the pilgrimage, Pakistan holds nationwide training camps to ensure pilgrims are well-informed and prepared for the spiritual and physical journey, as well as to maintain discipline and uniformity during the Hajj. 'Under our government scheme, 89,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj this year and all the formalities and procedures have been completed,' Yousuf told journalists in Islamabad. 'This training is being provided at the final stage to ensure that pilgrims are fully prepared and knowledgeable in line with Saudi guidelines to avoid any difficulties during their journey.' 'Master trainers and religious scholars' had been engaged to ensure that the administrative procedures were properly understood and pilgrims were well-informed about the correct way to perform Hajj, Yousuf said, adding that the religious affairs ministry's main objective was to ensure pilgrims from Pakistan were 'well informed, well prepared and received maximum assistance.' Mandatory vaccinations for Pakistani Hajj pilgrims, including meningitis and flu shots, would be administered on April 20, while travelers from yellow fever and polio-prone regions must present valid immunization certificates. The precautions are vital to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among millions of pilgrims converging in the Kingdom from across the globe. Hajj flight operations are set to begin on Apr. 29, with the first flight departing from Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also formed a three-member inquiry committee to investigate why Pakistan failed to fully utilize its quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2025.
Arab News
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
23,620 Pakistani pilgrims to perform Hajj under private scheme this year — ministry
ISLAMABAD: The ministry of religious affairs said on Tuesday only 23,620 Pakistani pilgrims would be performing Hajj under the private scheme this year. The annual Islamic pilgrimage is expected to take place this year in June. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Hajj Agreement 2025 in January, under which Pakistan was given a quota of 179,210 for the pilgrimage this year. The quota is divided equally between government and private schemes. Nearly 90,000 Pakistanis are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme this year. 'General public is hereby informed that only 23,620 pilgrims will be able to perform Hajj under the Private Hajj Scheme from Pakistan this year 2025,' the religious affairs ministry said in a statement. 'The list of service providers providing services with the Hajj 2025 quota has been updated on the website of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony and the Pak Hajj App.' The ministry urged pilgrims who had made bookings with registered service providers to check the status of their application and contract on the ministry's website. 'All organizing/service provider companies are directed to provide updated contract (Hajj Form) to Hajj pilgrims as per the approved quota of Hajj 2025 and ensure the process of issuing Hajj visas to pilgrims by April 18 as per the instructions of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,' the ministry added. Hajj flight operations will begin from Apr. 29 when the first flight will depart from Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to probe why Pakistan had failed to use the whole 179,210 quota for Hajj 2025.
Arab News
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Hajj flights to start April 29 as 90,000 Pakistanis expected to perform pilgrimage
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's religious affairs minister said on Sunday that pre-Hajj arrangements for pilgrims performing the pilgrimage under the government scheme this year were in the 'final stages,' vowing to ensure the best possible facilities for people. The annual Islamic pilgrimage is expected to take place this year in June. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Hajj Agreement 2025 in January, according to which 179,210 Pakistanis are expected to perform the pilgrimage this year. The quota was divided equally between government and private schemes. 'All pre-Hajj arrangements both here and in Saudi Arabia are in their final stages,' Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Pakistan's minister for religious affairs, told reporters at a press conference in Lahore. He said around 90,000 pilgrims were expected to perform Hajj under the government's scheme this year, promising to ensure the best possible facilities for them. 'And there too every year, the Saudi government makes the best possible arrangements and provides pilgrims with better facilities,' the minister said. The minister said Hajj operations will begin from Apr. 29 when the first flight will depart from Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday constituted a three-member inquiry committee to probe why Pakistan had failed to comply with the Kingdom's Hajj 2025 policy and, as a result not availed a large number of private Hajj quotas for pilgrims. 'The prime minister has constituted a committee and directed them to present a report on the matter within three working days,' Yousaf said. Responding to Pakistani nationals who travel to Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa and are found begging there, the minister said that the government has taken strict notice of it. 'If any [tour] company here takes such [beggars] it will be blacklisted and fined,' Yousaf said. 'And any person caught there will be deported.'
Arab News
05-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan cuts this year's Hajj costs, announces $17 million in refunds for last year's pilgrims
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Tuesday announced a reduction of up to Rs50,000 ($179) in this year's Hajj packages and a refund of over Rs4.75 billion ($17 million) to 2024 pilgrims. Last month, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Hajj Agreement 2025, under which 179,210 Pakistanis will perform the annual pilgrimage this year. The quota is divided equally between government and private schemes. To make the pilgrimage more convenient and accessible, Pakistan has introduced a shortened Hajj program of 20 to 25 days. The Ministry of Religious Affairs initially set the cost at Rs1,075,000 ($3,854) for the long Hajj package and Rs1,150,000 ($4,122) for the short Hajj package, as shorter stays often incur higher airfare, premium accommodation rates and expedited transport services, driving up overall costs. For the first time, the Hajj Policy 2025 also allowed pilgrims to pay in installments, easing financial constraints. Under the scheme, the first installment of Rs200,000 ($717) was required with the application, followed by Rs400,000 ($1,435) within 10 days of balloting, while the remaining amount had to be paid by February 10. 'After successful negotiations by our committee in Saudi Arabia, the cost of the 40-day long Hajj package has been reduced by Rs25,000 ($90) to Rs1,050,000 ($3,764), while the 25-day short Hajj package has been reduced by Rs50,000 ($179) to Rs1,100,000 ($3,943),' Hussain told reporters in Islamabad. He said pilgrims must submit the third installment in designated banks between February 6 and February 14, while every pilgrim will receive a notification via the 'Pak Hajj' cellphone app launched by the government. The app is designed to provide real-time updates, guidance, emergency contacts, lodging details, route navigation and complaint registration to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience. 'Pilgrims opting for the long Hajj package will need to pay a third installment of Rs450,000 ($1,613), while the third installment for the short Hajj package will be Rs500,000 ($1,794),' Hussain said. He further informed that over Rs4.75 billion ($17 million) will be refunded to 2024 Hajj pilgrims, citing savings in sacrificial animal costs and airfare reductions. 'Refunds will be disbursed into pilgrims' accounts from February 7 onwards,' he added. The minister said this year's government Hajj quota has been fully utilized and expressed hope that pilgrims will have an even better experience than last year. 'Pilgrims will have assistance available at all times, as one Hajj assistant will be assigned for every 150 pilgrims,' he continued. 'The assistant will travel with the pilgrims from the Hajj camp, stay with them and return with them, ensuring continuous support throughout the journey,' he added.
