ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan has officially asked Saudi Arabia to increase its Hajj quota to 230,000, to allow its large and growing population more people to make the religious pilgrimage.
The Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, told the press on Wednesday that he was very sure that, after other countries, the people from Pakistan would also be able to get a higher quota.
He mentioned that the government has already covered more than 38,000 pilgrims traveling from Islamabad under the ‘Road to Makkah’ project this year. He further confirmed that the government is working on extending the project to Lahore, as it is presently restricted to only Islamabad and Karachi.
Earlier in a Hajj training session, Sardar Yousuf made it known that Saudi Arabia has set a limit of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026. Out of which, the government has kept around 118,000 seats for its scheme, and the rest will be allocated to private tour operators.
He said that the ministry has started compulsory Hajj training programs for the pilgrims, so that they can be fully aware of the rituals and also the administrative procedures. The first phase of nationwide training will continue till February.
The minister disclosed that there were more than 450,000 applications for the Hajj registration this year, which was an indicator of the rising public trust in the government’s arrangements.
Sardar Yousaf promised that he would always be there in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj to solve the pilgrims’ problems and ensure smooth arrangements. He also mentioned that the ministry has come up with 22 guiding principles for the pilgrims to have no hassle performing Hajj rituals.
