Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Saudi Minister of Haj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, signed the annual Haj agreement on Monday, allowing 179,210 Pakistanis to perform Haj in 2025.
Haj, a key pillar of Islam, draws millions of Muslims worldwide annually, with Pakistan receiving one of the largest quotas from Saudi Arabia. Of the allocated quota, 89,602 pilgrims will travel under the government scheme, while the remainder will use private tour operators, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The agreement includes measures to enhance pilgrim facilities, such as reduced-rate accommodations in Mina. The Saudi minister assured full support for improving services. A new 20–25-day Haj program aims to make the journey more convenient, allowing pilgrims to select accommodations in Madina for 4–8 days.
Additionally, each pilgrim will receive a bag with the Pakistani flag, a QR code, and key information. A mobile app will provide details about training, flight schedules, accommodations, live maps, and Haj group updates.
Minister Hussain is also set to attend a four-day international Haj conference and expo in Jeddah to finalize agreements with service providers.
The 2025 Haj Policy restricts women from performing Haj without the consent of husbands or parents, bans children under 12, and mandates immunization with vaccines approved by Saudi Arabia.
