Pakistan pushes for Hajj quota restoration after thousands lose pilgrimage slots

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to urgently contact the Saudi government to restore Pakistan’s private Hajj quota, after a crisis left tens of thousands of pilgrims in limbo just weeks ahead of the pilgrimage.

In a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s House, Shehbaz expressed anger at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and private tour operators for failing to inform him in time about the cancellation of Hajj quotas for Zones One and Two, which includes Pakistan.

“The Prime Minister's Office would have played its role had we been informed in time,” Shehbaz said. “Those who show incompetence and laziness will not be spared—disciplinary action will be taken.”

The meeting followed weeks of confusion and public outcry after Saudi Arabia declined to confirm a quota of roughly 67,000 private Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan, citing delays in payment transfers.

Only 23,620 pilgrims will be able to perform Hajj under the private scheme this year, according to a Ministry of Religious Affairs notice issued earlier this month.

A representative delegation of the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, led by Chairman Senator Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman, briefed the prime minister on the situation and requested him to personally reach out to Saudi authorities, including the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

The delegation included Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Maulana Darwish, and members of the Hajj Operators Association of Pakistan. Notably, senators from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did not attend.

PTI Senator Aun Abbas Bappi told Nukta that the party boycotted the meeting as a protest, stating it does not recognize what it called a government “formed on Form 47,” referring to allegations of electoral manipulation.

Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said he had inherited the crisis upon assuming office and had since made emergency efforts to address it. “I took all the steps that were within my reach,” he said.

Chief organizer of the Hajj Operators Association, Sanaullah Khan, appealed to the prime minister to raise the matter with Saudi authorities directly. He also criticized the ministry for blocking IDs of tour operators even after a stay order was withdrawn on the committee’s request.

Senator Bushra Anjum Butt added that despite the operators' legal concession, the ministry “showed ego” and failed to cooperate.

In response, the prime minister said both the ministry and private tour operators had failed in their duties. “Both parties are guilty,” he said, promising accountability for those responsible.

Fazl to be included in discussions

The prime minister also recommended that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman be included in discussions with the Saudi government. “Talk to him, and the government will also approach him,” Shehbaz directed Ata-ur-Rehman, expressing hope that a resolution would follow. The suggestion was met with unanimous agreement.

Prime Ministerial Advisor Dr Tauqeer Shah acknowledged that the ministry is also preoccupied with arrangements for government-sponsored pilgrims but assured efforts are underway to resolve the private quota issue.

The quota shortfall has left tens of thousands of registered pilgrims uncertain about whether they will be able to travel. Many had already paid substantial sums and made arrangements based on earlier assumptions.

Hajj 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.