Pakistan renews appeal to Saudi Arabia to reinstate Hajj quota for stranded pilgrims

Pakistan has formally appealed to Saudi Arabia to reinstate Hajj 2025 quotas for nearly 67,000 private pilgrims left out after local tour operators failed to meet payment deadlines under a new Saudi Hajj system.

Abdul Wahab Soomro, Director General of the Office of Pilgrims Affairs Pakistan (OPAP), on Tuesday, sent a second letter to Dr. Badr Alsolmi, Director General of Saudi Hajj Affairs, urging the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU) to consider the humanitarian plight of thousands of would-be pilgrims, many of whom are elderly.

“The anguish of these pilgrims, many of whom are elderly and may not have another chance to perform Hajj, is immeasurable,” Soomro wrote. “This journey was the culmination of a lifetime of faith and sacrifice.”

According to the letter, Pakistani private tour operators failed to pay the required service provider fees via Saudi Arabia’s digital Hajj platform, NUSUK, by the February 14 deadline. This resulted in the cancellation of Hajj allocations for about 77,000 pilgrims under the private scheme.

Though Saudi authorities restored 10,000 quotas as a goodwill gesture, around 67,000 pilgrims remain unable to go.

“While we are profoundly grateful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its boundless generosity in reinstating an additional 10,000 quotas... a significant number of pilgrims still face the heartbreaking reality of missing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the letter said.

The letter asked Saudi officials to consider allocating any remaining available spaces in Mina — even under alternate Tawafa companies — to accommodate the left-out pilgrims. Soomro emphasized that most funds required for these pilgrims are already available in Saudi Arabia.

“This humanitarian gesture would alleviate immense suffering without imposing additional financial burdens,” he noted.

Soomro assured Saudi authorities that Pakistani private operators would comply strictly with future deadlines.

“We solemnly assure you that... the private sector will adhere strictly to all deadlines, ensuring no such lapse occurs again,” the letter added.

The issue has triggered broader concern within Pakistan. Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, also wrote to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, asking him to intervene and restore the canceled private Hajj quotas.

Ashrafi’s letter described the situation as deeply distressing for thousands of families who had long saved for the pilgrimage.

The crisis stems from a shift in Saudi Arabia’s Hajj administration model for 2025, which required payments and bookings through the centralized NUSUK platform. Despite repeated deadline extensions, many private Hajj operators in Pakistan failed to meet the financial requirements on time.

As a result, quotas from several countries, including Pakistan, were canceled, particularly in Zones One and Two, which include major Pakistani cities.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has now placed its hopes in what it called the Saudi government’s “wisdom and benevolence.”

“This act of kindness will not only bring solace to countless families but also reflect the true spirit of Islamic brotherhood and empathy,” Soomro concluded.