Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan has officially requested Saudi Arabia to raise its Hajj quota to 230,000, aligning it with the country’s population, so that a greater number of citizens can perform the pilgrimage.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, shared this update with the media on Wednesday.
“With quotas being increased for other countries, Pakistan’s share is expected to see a significant rise as well,” he said. Speaking about the ‘Road to Makkah’ initiative, the minister noted that more than 38,000 pilgrims will travel from Islamabad under the project, and efforts are underway to expand the facility to Lahore. Currently, the program operates only in Islamabad and Karachi.
Sardar Yousaf confirmed that all arrangements for Hajj 2026 have been finalized in accordance with Saudi guidance. He added that Saudi Arabia has allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the next Hajj season, with approximately 118,000 seats reserved under the government scheme and the remainder designated for private tour operators.
Read More: Saudi Defense Delegation Visits Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The minister emphasized that mandatory Hajj training sessions have been introduced to ensure that pilgrims are fully familiar with the rituals and administrative procedures. The first phase of these training programs will continue nationwide until February.
Highlighting the growing interest in Hajj, Sardar Yousaf said that over 450,000 applications were received this year, reflecting strong public confidence in government arrangements.
He also mentioned that during his previous visits for Hajj, he did not use any official protocol and urged Khuddam-ul-Hujaj Nazims to serve pilgrims efficiently and sincerely.
Read More: Turkiye Moves Toward Joining Pakistan–Saudi Defense Agreement
The minister pointed out that the Ministry of Religious Affairs has developed 22 guiding principles aimed at simplifying the performance of Hajj rituals for pilgrims. He added that he will personally be present in Saudi Arabia to address any complaints or concerns of the Hujaj.
