ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally asked Saudi Arabia to increase its Hajj quota to 230,000 pilgrims, citing the country’s large population and growing demand for the annual pilgrimage.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said on Wednesday that Pakistan expects its quota to rise in line with increases granted to other countries.
He said more than 38,000 pilgrims from Islamabad will travel under the Road to Makkah initiative, which allows immigration clearance in Pakistan before departure. Efforts are underway to extend the facility to Lahore, while it is already operational in Islamabad and Karachi.
The minister said the government has finalized arrangements for Hajj 2026 in accordance with Saudi guidelines.
Addressing a Hajj training session earlier, Sardar Yousaf said Saudi Arabia has allocated 179,210 seats to Pakistan for Hajj 2026. Of these, around 118,000 seats fall under the government scheme, while the remaining quota has been assigned to private tour operators.
He said Hajj training sessions have been made mandatory to ensure pilgrims understand religious rituals and administrative procedures. The first phase of training will continue nationwide until February.
According to the minister, more than 450,000 applications were received for Hajj registration this year, reflecting growing public confidence in government arrangements.
Sardar Yousaf added that the Ministry of Religious Affairs has introduced 22 guiding principles to facilitate pilgrims and confirmed he will remain present in Saudi Arabia to address any complaints during Hajj operations.