ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has officially requested Saudi Arabia to raise its Hajj quota for 2026 to 230,000, aligning with the country’s population size and enabling more citizens to perform the pilgrimage. This announcement was made by Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, during a press conference in Islamabad today.
Responding to inquiries, the minister highlighted that over 38,000 pilgrims from Islamabad will participate through the Route to Makkah initiative, and efforts are underway to extend this facility to Lahore as well. Currently, this service is available only in Islamabad and Karachi.
The minister confirmed that the government has completed all arrangements for Hajj 2026 in coordination with the Saudi authorities. He added that Saudi Arabia initially allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for this year, with approximately 118,000 seats reserved under the government scheme, while the remaining places are assigned to private tour operators.
Addressing a Hajj training session, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf emphasized the importance of training to ensure pilgrims are well-informed about rituals and administrative procedures. He noted that the first phase of these training sessions will be conducted nationwide until February.
The minister revealed that over 450,000 applications have been received for Hajj this year, reflecting increasing public confidence in the government’s efforts. He also shared that during his previous visits for Hajj, he did not seek any official protocol and urged Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj (Hajj volunteers) to serve pilgrims efficiently.
Furthermore, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf assured that he will personally be present in Saudi Arabia to address any issues faced by pilgrims and to facilitate their needs.
