Over 77,000 Pakistani Pilgrims to miss Hajj as private operators fail to meet deadline

A failure to meet Saudi Arabia’s procedural requirements has resulted in the underutilization of Pakistan’s private Hajj quota, depriving at least 77,000 potential pilgrims of the opportunity to perform Hajj this year.

In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry into the matter.

An investigative committee, headed by the Secretary of the Cabinet Division, convened to examine the issue, with Secretary of Religious Affairs Dr. Ata-ur-Rehman providing a detailed briefing.

According to the briefing, private Hajj operators failed to comply with agreements, leading to the booking of only 12,500 out of the allocated 89,801 slots.

Consequently, a significant number of pilgrims have been left unable to participate in the sacred journey.

It was further revealed that the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs had requested Saudi authorities to extend the booking deadline, but the request was declined.

Read more: Worshippers urged to refrain from using phones, filming women at Two Holy Mosques

A contract between private Hajj operators, the Saudi Ministry, and the Pakistan Hajj Mission was signed on December 10.

The Pakistani government permitted tour operators to transfer funds to Saudi Arabia starting January 10, while Saudi Arabia set a final booking deadline of February 14.

Despite these arrangements, non-compliance by private operators led to the forfeiture of thousands of slots. Under the 2025 Hajj agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, a total of 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims were expected to perform Hajj this year.