Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Sign Agreement for 180,000 Citizens to Perform Hajj in 2025
On Monday, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Saudi Minister of Haj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah finalized the yearly Haj agreement between their nations, allowing 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims to participate in Haj this year.
Haj, a key pillar of Islam, is undertaken annually by millions of Muslims around the globe. Pakistan is one of the countries with the largest Haj quotas allocated by Saudi Arabia. Under the current Haj quota, approximately 89,602 individuals will undertake the pilgrimage through the government program, while others will do so via private tour operators, as stated by the religious affairs ministry. As per a release from the Ministry of Religious Affairs today, the agreement entails a “commitment to offer the best possible accommodations for the pilgrims, who will be provided with special lodging in Mina at discounted rates.” According to the statement, the Saudi minister assured his Pakistani counterpart of full support for improved amenities for the pilgrims.
“To enhance the accessibility, ease, and comfort of the Haj pilgrimage, a brief Haj program lasting 20 to 25 days has been launched,” the announcement stated, noting that pilgrims could select their accommodations in Madina for four to eight days. “Every pilgrim will be provided with a specially crafted bag that includes the Pakistani flag, a QR code for identification, and pertinent information,” it added. “A dedicated mobile application will furnish all relevant details to the pilgrims on their smartphones, allowing them to remain informed about their Haj group’s information, training schedule, flight arrangements, lodging in Saudi Arabia, as well as live maps and locations of sites during Haj.”
The announcement indicated that the Minister of Religious Affairs, Hussain, will also attend a four-day international Haj conference and expo organized by the Saudi Ministry of Haj in Jeddah, where further agreements will be established with organizations and companies that provide services to pilgrims. According to the country’s 2025 Haj Policy, women must obtain consent from their husbands or parents to perform the Haj. In addition, children under the age of 12 will not be permitted to participate in Haj, and vaccination with vaccines approved by Saudi Arabia will be required.