Thousands may miss Hajj as Pakistan announces limited private quota

Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs announced Thursday that 23,620 pilgrims will be able to perform Hajj under the private scheme this year, leaving tens of thousands of registered applicants in limbo as the April 18 visa deadline approaches.

The announcement falls significantly short of accommodating the approximately 67,000 private pilgrims who had already registered and paid for the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Officials have attributed the quota limitation to delayed payment transfers to Saudi authorities.

"The Ministry of Religious Affairs informs the public that only 23,620 pilgrims will be able to perform Hajj from Pakistan under the private Hajj scheme this year," the ministry said in a public notice issued today. The ministry directed all pilgrims who made bookings with registered service providers to check their application status on the ministry's website.

The crisis has reached Pakistan's Parliament, with the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs meeting Thursday to address Saudi Arabia's cancellation of a significant portion of Pakistan's private Hajj quota. The committee, chaired by Senator Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman, heard from ministry officials and representatives of private Hajj tour operators.

According to the Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Saudi Arabia had established a February 14 deadline for depositing funds. The secretary stated that diplomatic efforts by Pakistan's Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Religious Affairs resulted in Saudi Arabia restoring an additional 10,000 quota spots, bringing the total to 23,620. He emphasized that "there is no possibility of securing more quotas at this time."

Private tour operators have blamed the ministry for the crisis. Sanaullah Khan, Chief Coordinator of the Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP), questioned why the ministry issued the policy one and a half months late after Saudi Arabia set the deadline on September 24.

"We have transferred the funds for 67,000 Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia," Khan said. "A high-level committee should be formed and sent to Saudi Arabia to resolve this issue."

Ministry officials countered that tour operators had transferred only 149 million riyals out of the required 450 million riyals to Saudi Arabia, resulting in 48 billion Pakistani rupees being held up.

Ashrafi urges Saudi, Pakistani govts to intervene

Meanwhile, Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi has appealed to the Saudi and Pakistani authorities to address the plight of over 67,000 private Hajj pilgrims facing uncertainty.

In a video message, Ashrafi urged King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Saudi Minister for Hajj to take notice, saying pilgrims had placed their trust in the system and saved money with great difficulty.

“The entire country is in turmoil, and our private pilgrims are in distress,” he said, adding that Saudi Arabia had extended multiple opportunities, but Pakistani stakeholders had failed to deliver.

He also called for prayers and full efforts to support the pilgrims, expressing concern over the emotional toll on those affected.

PM will address crisis

The Senate Standing Committee has agreed to arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address the crisis and will recommend that he speak directly with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf has been tasked with arranging the meeting.

All service providers must ensure the issuance of Hajj visas to pilgrims by April 18, 2025, in accordance with instructions from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The annual Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam, and millions of Muslims around the world aspire to perform it at least once in their lifetime if physically and financially able.