- The minister says that the private sector has failed to hand over funds.
- The PM Shehbaz is an investigation committee to probe the case.
- “Persons deemed responsible will be held responsible.”
Federal Minister of Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf accused private tour operators on Friday not to use the full quota of the Hajj of Pakistan, citing missed payment deadlines and non-compliance with government regulations in Saudi Arabia.
In January 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Hajj’s annual agreement, awarding a total of 179,210 slots for Pakistani pilgrims.
While around 90,000 were designated for the government program, only 25,698 were able to carry out private operators, leaving thousands of private quota pilgrims unable to perform the HAJJ this year.
The Hajj, one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam, attracts millions of Muslims from around the world each year, Pakistan receiving one of the greatest quotas of Saudi Arabia.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad today, he clarified the developments surrounding this year’s hajj’s arrangements, saying that Hajj’s policy had been approved in November, months before it took charge of the ministry in March.
He noted that he had personally visited Saudi Arabia twice to supervise the arrangements. “The Total Hajj quota of Pakistan was also divided between the government and the private regimes, the entire government quota is now used,” he said.
However, the minister said that the private sector has failed to hand over funds in time and did not join the instructions issued by the Saudi authorities, causing significant part of the unused private hajj quota.
“The tour operators have shown negligence within the time of respect, and according to Saudi directives, only companies with a minimum of 2,000 quota allowances were eligible,” he added.
The association of organizers of the Hajj of Pakistan (HOAP) had formed 41 clusters and was to deposit 25% of the payment by February 14. “A very small amount has been deposited on that date,” noted the minister. Even after an extension of 48 hours, only funds for 10,000 pilgrims were obtained.
Following the diplomatic efforts carried out by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar, an additional quota of 10,000 pilgrims was allocated not only to Pakistan but also to other Muslim countries. “This year, 25,698 pilgrims will perform the Hajj as part of the private program,” he confirmed.
Responding to the complaints of certain tour operators according to which they were not aware of deadlines, the minister argued that all communications had been done in a timely manner. “We have provided the relevant lists to eligible companies well in advance,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was a high -level investigation committee to investigate the issue. “Persons deemed responsible will be held responsible once the investigation report is submitted,” said the minister.
Minister Yousaf said he had personally checked pilgrims as part of the government program during his visits to Saudi Arabia and found the arrangements – transport, food and accommodation – satisfactory. “The government program follows a system at a single level. Any pilgrim being faced with difficulties should contact our staff in the field,” he added.
Answering a question about complaints concerning food and missing support staff, the minister replied that all complaints were treated quickly. “Companies that have not provided appropriate meals will be on a blacklist,” he said. He also confirmed that a single transport problem had already been solved.
For his part, the Secretary of Religious Affairs, Dr Atta-Ur-Rehman, an investigation was underway to determine how a Saudi-list company on the black list managed to obtain a contract this year.
He added that pilgrims were allowed to withdraw from pre-arranged meals and receive SAR34 per day instead. “So far, no pilgrim has benefited from this option,” he said.
Answering media questions, Dr. Rehman acknowledged that some tour operators transfer funds to incorrect accounts, resulting in the accommodation booking. “The DG Hajj account received only 50 million Riyals, while 700 million were necessary. Although 50 million were initially wrong, they were returned between December and January,” he said.
Despite the reverse, Dr. Rehman noted that the plots could have been reserved with the available funds if they were managed properly.
By concluding the press conference, Minister Yousaf said unequivocally: “The Saudi government no longer provides Hajj quota. These pilgrims of the private program that have missed this year will unfortunately have to remain so. ”