ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf attributed the underutilization of Pakistan’s Hajj quota to private tour operators on Friday, citing missed financial deadlines and failure to comply with Saudi government regulations.
In January 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed their annual Hajj agreement, securing 179,210 slots for Pakistani pilgrims.
While approximately 90,000 slots were allocated to the government-run scheme, only 25,698 pilgrims managed to travel under private operators, leaving a large portion of the private quota unused.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, draws millions of Muslims from around the world each year. Pakistan consistently receives one of the largest quotas from Saudi Arabia.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister clarified the situation surrounding this year’s Hajj arrangements, noting that the Hajj policy was approved in November, before he assumed office in March.
He said he made two visits to Saudi Arabia to personally oversee arrangements. “Pakistan’s total Hajj quota was split evenly between the government and private schemes, and the entire government quota has been utilized,” he stated.
However, he criticized the private sector for failing to remit required funds on time and not following Saudi regulations, resulting in a substantial portion of the private quota going unused.
“Private tour operators missed crucial deadlines, and under Saudi rules, only companies with a minimum allocation of 2,000 pilgrims were eligible to participate,” he said.
The Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) had organized 41 clusters and was required to submit 25% of the payment by February 14. “Only a minimal amount was deposited by the deadline,” the minister said. Despite a 48-hour extension, funding was secured for just 10,000 pilgrims.
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Following diplomatic outreach led by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, an additional quota of 10,000 pilgrims was granted not just to Pakistan, but to other Muslim nations as well. “This year, 25,698 pilgrims will travel under the private scheme,” he confirmed.
In response to some operators claiming they were unaware of the deadlines, the minister insisted all instructions were shared in advance. “We provided the necessary lists to the eligible companies well ahead of time,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the situation. “Anyone found responsible will face consequences after the inquiry report is completed,” the minister assured.
Minister Yousaf also said he personally reviewed conditions for government scheme pilgrims during his visits to Saudi Arabia. “The arrangements—transport, food, and accommodation—were satisfactory. The government scheme follows a unified system. Any pilgrim facing issues should contact our staff on-site,” he added.
Addressing concerns about food quality and absent support staff, the minister stated that complaints were being promptly addressed. “Operators who failed to provide proper meals will be blacklisted,” he said, confirming that a one-time transport issue had already been resolved.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Religious Affairs Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman revealed that an investigation is underway to determine how a previously blacklisted Saudi company secured a contract this year.
He added that pilgrims were allowed to opt out of pre-arranged meals in exchange for SAR 34 per day, though “no one has chosen this option so far,” he noted.
In response to media questions, Dr. Rehman acknowledged that some operators had mistakenly transferred funds into incorrect accounts, delaying accommodation bookings. “The DG Hajj account received only 50 million riyals, though 700 million were required. While 50 million were misrouted, they were returned between December and January,” he explained.
Despite the setbacks, Dr. Rehman noted that accommodations could still have been booked had the funds been properly managed.
Concluding the press conference, Minister Yousaf made it clear: “The Saudi government will not be offering any additional quota. Private scheme pilgrims who missed this year’s Hajj will, unfortunately, not be able to go.”
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