Pakistan warns pilgrims to be cautious with private Hajj organizers after quota cut

Following the cancellation of a 67,000-pilgrim Hajj quota under Pakistan’s private scheme by Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has urged aspiring pilgrims to proceed with caution when dealing with private Hajj organizers.

The ministry is currently investigating the reasons behind the quota loss and has issued fresh instructions for those intending to perform Hajj under the private scheme.

Hajj arrangements in Pakistan are split between a government-managed program and a private scheme run by licensed tour operators, both overseen by the ministry to maintain standards and facilitate pilgrimages.

In its latest statement, the ministry has advised all prospective pilgrims to exercise "utmost caution" when booking packages through private organizers (Munazzameen).

The advisory comes after several private operators reportedly failed to pay mandatory Mushaira (Tawafah and Qadana) dues to Saudi authorities within the deadline, leading to a significant cut in Pakistan’s private Hajj quota.

According to ministry officials, Saudi authorities had recently restored an additional 10,000 slots under strict financial and procedural conditions. Tour operators who met these conditions -- such as having sufficient funds in their accounts and submitting a Request for Quotation (RFQ) on time -- have been granted slots for 2,078 more pilgrims.

As a result, the total quota under the private scheme has now been revised to 25,698 pilgrims. The ministry clarified that no additional quota will be approved for Hajj 2025.

To protect themselves from fraud or misinformation, Pakistani pilgrims have been directed to:

• Verify the approval status and allocated quota of private Hajj organizers through the official Ministry of Religious Affairs website.
• Avoid relying on unverified advertisements or information circulated on social media.
• Ensure that bookings are only made with operators whose quotas are officially confirmed.

All Hajj Cluster Companies have also been warned not to exceed their allocated quotas. The ministry has said that any violation of this directive will lead to strict action.

A ministry spokesperson emphasized the government’s commitment to a transparent, regulated, and well-coordinated Hajj operation. Public cooperation, the spokesperson added, is essential to ensure compliance with Saudi regulations and Pakistan’s Hajj policy.

An official from the ministry told Nukta that the announcement is meant to clarify the reduced private quota for this year and dispel the misconception that private operators had legitimate bookings for 67,000 pilgrims. "They wasted that quota," the official said.

Meanwhile, the ministry has dismissed circulating videos and claims on social media suggesting Pakistan will receive an additional 30,000 Hajj slots for private operators, calling such information false and outdated.

The Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan has also confirmed that some of the previously booked accommodation plots in Saudi Arabia have now been officially cleared.