RIYADH (Kashmir English): Saudi Minister of Hajj Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, signed a Hajj agreement in Jeddah.
Federal Secretary for Religious Affairs Abrar Ahmed Mirza, Joint Secretary Syed Abdul Waheed Shah, and Acting Director General (Hajj) Arif Aslam Rao were also present on the occasion.
The agreement aims to facilitate the journey for Pakistani Hajj pilgrims, improve available amenities, and finalize all arrangements and service contracts in advance, ensuring that the entire Hajj pilgrimage—from arrival in Saudi Arabia to the return home—is smooth and comfortable.
It is worth noting that Sardar Yousuf is leading the Pakistani delegation at the four-day Hajj Conference and Exhibition held at the Jeddah Superdome.
The Pakistani Minister for Religious Affairs also participated in a meeting with the heads of Hajj affairs offices, alongside Saudi Minister of Hajj Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah.
During this meeting, discussions were held regarding arrangements for the upcoming Hajj season, and ways to further strengthen coordination with Saudi authorities were explored.
Hajj 2027: 80% of seats booked under Private Scheme
Almost 80% of the seats under the Private Hajj Scheme have been reserved, while approximately 15,000 seats are still available for the aspirants.
Following the completion of the booking process under the Government Hajj Scheme, the pace of applications and bookings in the Private Hajj Scheme has accelerated.
According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, pilgrims wishing to perform Hajj under the Private Hajj Scheme have deposited a total of Rs57 billion in dues.
The spokesperson stated that out of the deposited amount, Rs30 billion were paid through One Link PSID and bank cards, while over R27 billion was deposited via manual bank challans.
The Ministry has clarified that this year, the cost of sacrifice, valued at Rs55,000, is already included in all private Hajj packages available on the Pak Hajj app and Hajj digital portal.
The spokesperson said if pilgrims wish to opt for any additional facility, the selection and relevant payment must also be made solely through the Hajj digital portal.
