An agreement has been finalized between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025. According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Saudi Minister for Hajj and Umrah, the Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan al-Rabiah, signed the agreement for Hajj 2025.
Under the agreement, 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj this year, Express News reported.
The agreement also aims to provide better facilities to Pakistani pilgrims. Special spaces will be allocated for Pakistani pilgrims in Mina and prices will be reduced.
The spokesperson added that the Saudi Hajj Minister assured full cooperation in providing better facilities to Pakistani pilgrims. To make the Hajj journey more accessible, convenient and comfortable, a shorter Hajj program of 20 to 25 days has been introduced.
Pilgrims will have the opportunity to choose accommodation in Medina for 4 to 8 days. Each pilgrim will receive a specially designed bag containing a Pakistani flag, a QR code for identification and relevant information.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs also mentioned that a special mobile application will provide all information to pilgrims on their mobile phones.
Pilgrims can stay informed about their Hajj group details, training schedules, flight information, accommodation in Saudi Arabia, payments, as well as live maps and locations of pilgrimage sites.
Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain will also participate in the four-day international conference on Hajj organized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj in Jeddah. Other agreements will be concluded with organizations and companies responsible for providing services to pilgrims at the Hajj Expo.
Previously, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony allowed private Hajj organizing companies and their subsidiaries to begin bookings for the 2025 Hajj on Friday.
According to a ministry spokesperson, private bookings for the Hajj will be open from January 10 to 31.
The spokesperson said the ministry had published the details of various Hajj packages under the private program on its official website.
He said the basic packages for Hajj range from Rs 1.1 million to Rs 2.15 million, while additional premium packages exceeding Rs 3 million have to be approved by the ‘Policy Formulation Committee of the Hajj.”
He said private operators must make pilgrims’ bookings in accordance with the Service Provider Agreement (SPA). For plans exceeding Rs3 million, operators are required to submit all details during the approval process.
Additionally, all transactions involving parcels above Rs3 million will be shared with the FBR and other relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi on Sunday announced that the reservation process for private Hajj pilgrims had officially started on Friday.
Ashrafi warned that no private entity was allowed to facilitate the granting of visas to beggars and promised strict action against any organization found to be complicit in the activities of the beggar mafia.
