Saudi Arabia urged by Pakistan to expand hajj quota

Pakistan has formally requested Saudi Arabia to increase its Hajj quota for 2026 to 230,000 pilgrims, in proportion to the country’s population, to allow more people to perform the pilgrimage.

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf announced that over 38000 intending pilgrims will travel from Islamabad under the Route to Makkah project this year. Currently, this facility is available only in Islamabad and Karachi, but the government is working to expand it to Lahore to provide more pilgrims with a convenient travel option.

He said the government has finalized all arrangements for Hajj 2026 following guidance from the Saudi authorities. Saudi Arabia has allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Pakistan, of which around 118000 seats are reserved under the government scheme, while the remaining seats are available to private tour operators.

The minister emphasized that Hajj training programs have been made mandatory to ensure pilgrims are fully aware of rituals and administrative procedures. He added that the first phase of these training sessions will continue across the country until February.

Sardar Muhammad Yousaf highlighted that the government received over 450000 Hajj applications this year, reflecting growing public trust in the system. He also urged Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj Nazims to serve pilgrims efficiently and said he would personally remain in Saudi Arabia during Hajj to address any complaints or issues faced by pilgrims. Speaking on his previous experiences during Hajj, the minister noted that he did not avail of any official protocol and encouraged officials to focus on serving pilgrims with dedication and sincerity.