ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the annual Hajj 2025 agreement on Monday.
The agreement was signed by the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan al-Rabiah.
As per the agreement, 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims will perform Hajj this year. Under the agreement, special accommodation will be offered to Pakistani pilgrims in Mina at reduced rates.
The Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umra Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan al-Rabiah assured to provide all possible support for better facilities for Pakistani pilgrims.
To make the Hajj journey more accessible, easier, and comfortable, Pilgrims will have the option to choose their accommodation in Medina for a duration of four to eight days.
Each pilgrim will receive a specially designed bag containing the Pakistani flag, a QR code for identification, and relevant information.
Pakistan has also reopened applications for Hajj 2025 under the remaining quota of the government Hajj scheme.
As per details, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony announced that it will invite new Hajj 2025 applications under the remaining quota of the government Hajj scheme.
The move aims to fully utilize the quota and prevent unused seats from being returned to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has allotted Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, divided equally between the government and private schemes.
The ministry received 82,000 applications for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage under the government scheme after the expiration of the extended deadline.
Starting this week, 5,000 additional pilgrims can apply on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be accepted within a specified window. The ministry is considering limiting the submission period to five days.
The new decision allows more people to apply after missing out in the first round.
Unlike the previous process, there will be no lottery for these new applications. This change aims to streamline the process and ensure fairness.
Officials stressed that they aim to maximize the quota and ensure they use all available spots to send pilgrims to the Holy Land.
The authorities will start the application process soon and encourage interested applicants to apply quickly.
Pakistan experienced a similar trend for Hajj 2024, with only 69,438 applications received and more than 21,000 available slots returned to the Saudi government following the draw.
The Pakistani government has also announced a reduction in airfares for Hajj 2025, with a Rs14,000 ($50) drop in ticket prices. Pilgrims enrolled in the government programme will now pay Rs220,000 for airfare, down from last year’s Rs234,000.
Hajj pilgrims to get passports in 24 hours
To ease the Hajj process for Pakistani pilgrims, the Director-General of Immigration & Passports (DGI&P) Passports Office rolled out a new initiative to expedite passport services.
Director-General of Passports Mustafa Jamal Qazi said that special counters will operate at regional passport offices, including headquarters, and that officials will issue passports to pilgrims in less than twenty-four hours.
Passport offices across the world are offering this fast-tracked service.
