Islamabad:
There is an imminent risk that private operators in Hajj in Pakistan can allow a quota of more than 77,000 pilgrims due to the non-compliance of Saudi regulations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took note of the issue and launched efforts to prevent loss, while ordering the training of a committee to identify managers of mismanagement.
Sources have revealed that the Saudi government had informed Pakistan in 2023 of its decision to rationalize the operations of HAJJ by limiting contracts to less large companies – each with a minimum quota of 2000 pilgrims. While the Ministry of Religious Affairs intervened at the time to relieve small operators temporary, it was also specified that companies managing at least 200 pilgrims after merger would be authorized to operate in the future.
In 2024, the ministry published an advertising inviting more companies to request a Hajj quota. However, the Hajj tour operators challenged this before the high court of the Sindh, guaranteeing a suspension order which remains in force.
This year, the Saudi authorities demanded that the private operators of Hajj complete the reservations and payments for accommodation in Mina by February 14. Despite this, only around 12,500 reservations were completed via the Saudi portal designated before being closed, leaving the 77,000 remaining locations in the limbo. The total quota of the private hajj for Pakistan was 89,801 pilgrims.
The inability to carry out the quota prompted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take urgent measures. He trained a committee of three members led by the Cabinet Division sector, which was responsible for determining the responsibility of the forfeiture within three days. The members of the Committee include the Secretary of Religious Affairs, Dr. Attor Rehman, the president of the FBR and the chief secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Sources have also revealed that the Saudi government has refused to extend the deadline for private arrangements in Hajj. The agreement between Pakistani private operators, the Saudi ministry and the Pakistani mission of the Hajj was signed on December 10, the government authorized private tour operators to transfer funds to Saudi Arabia from January 10 for Hajj 2025. Saudi Arabia had fixed on February 14 as the death of death for the facilities of Hajj Pilgrims.
Sources have indicated that the efforts of the Ministry of Religious Affairs failed because the Saudi authorities did not respond.
