Pakistan has lost over 67,000 private Hajj slots for the 2025 pilgrimage after private tour operators failed to meet booking requirements and deadlines set by Saudi authorities. Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf announced on Friday that only 25,698 pilgrims would be able to perform Hajj under the private scheme this year, a steep drop from the originally allocated 89,801 quota.
Saudi Arabia had granted Pakistan a total Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims, traditionally split evenly between the government and private sectors. While the public scheme has been fully utilized—nearly 89,000 pilgrims are travelling under it—the private sector’s failure has left thousands stranded and the country forced to surrender a large portion of its allocated share.
Delayed Application Process
Addressing a press conference, Minister Yousaf said that only 3,600 pilgrims had managed to submit payments by the initial February 14 deadline. Following a one-week extension, that number rose to 13,000. However, even after Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar intervened and secured an additional 10,000 slots from Saudi authorities in mid-April, bringing the total to 25,698, thousands of slots remained unused.
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The minister criticized private operators for failing to meet deadlines despite repeated notices and communication. “Some private operators claimed they were unaware of the deadlines, but their organization was sent letters on several occasions,” Yousaf clarified.
Lack of Compliance and Fraud Concerns
The Ministry of Religious Affairs had approved a list of 904 private Hajj operators for registration with Saudi authorities. Yet, many pilgrims ignored ministry guidelines and paid unregistered operators, leading to payment and quota issues.
Additionally, even some registered operators failed to submit payments within the timelines mandated by Saudi Arabia. This lack of compliance not only resulted in the forfeiture of the Hajj slots but also exposed thousands of Pakistanis to potential fraud.
The Hajj Organisers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) Chairman Zaeem Akhtar Siddiqui noted that while the public scheme began accepting applications from November 28, 2024, the private sector was only allowed to start from January 14—just weeks before the February 21 Saudi deadline—further limiting the time for proper bookings.
PM Orders Inquiry, Ministry Issues New Guidelines
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the formation of an inquiry committee to determine why the full quota was not utilized and to take strict action against those responsible. The minister emphasized that accountability would be ensured.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued fresh advisories, urging all prospective pilgrims to verify the registration and quota status of their operators through the ministry’s official website. It warned against relying on unverified advertisements or information.
Ongoing Hajj Operations
Pakistan’s Hajj flight operation began on April 29, and so far, 55,642 pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia via 244 flights operated by Pakistan International Airlines, Saudi Airlines, Air Sial, Airblue, and Serene Air. The last pre-Hajj flight will depart for Jeddah on May 31.
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Minister Yousaf assured that the ministry is committed to ensuring all facilities for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. He also confirmed that any catering company found serving substandard meals will be blacklisted, and a probe has been initiated into how a previously blacklisted Saudi firm managed to secure a new contract.
The Hajj pilgrimage is scheduled to take place between June 4 and June 9.