Mazaj News (Web Desk) Pakistan has officially approached Saudi Arabia with a request to raise its Hajj quota to 230,000, in line with the country’s population, so that a larger number of citizens can perform the pilgrimage.
This was disclosed by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf while speaking to the media on Wednesday. He said that as Saudi Arabia has increased quotas for several other countries, Pakistan’s share is also expected to rise substantially.
Responding to a question, the minister said that more than 38,000 pilgrims would depart from Islamabad under the ‘Road to Makkah’ initiative, adding that efforts are underway to extend the facility to Lahore.
Currently, pilgrims are benefiting from the Road to Makkah project at Islamabad and Karachi airports only. He further stated that arrangements for Hajj 2026 have been finalised in accordance with Saudi guidelines.
Earlier, while addressing participants at a Hajj training session, the minister said Saudi authorities had allocated a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Pakistan for Hajj 2026. Of this, approximately 118,000 slots have been set aside under the government scheme, while the remaining quota has been assigned to private tour operators.
Sardar Yousaf said the Hajj training sessions have been made compulsory to ensure pilgrims are well informed about religious rites as well as administrative requirements. He added that the first phase of these training programmes will continue nationwide until February.
He revealed that more than 450,000 applications were received for Hajj registration this year, which he said reflected increasing public confidence in the government’s arrangements.
The minister also shared that during his earlier Hajj visits, he did not use any official protocol. He urged Khuddam-ul-Hujaj Nazims to serve the pilgrims with dedication and efficiency.
He noted that the Ministry of Religious Affairs has developed 22 guiding principles to help make the performance of Hajj rituals more convenient for pilgrims.
Sardar Yousaf added that he would personally be present in Saudi Arabia during Hajj to address and resolve any complaints raised by the pilgrims.