Updates:
Saudi Arabia has extended a lifeline to Pakistani pilgrims left stranded by private tour operator delays, allowing 10,000 of those originally barred to perform Hajj.
The Religious Affairs Ministry confirmed that this breakthrough came after Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Earlier, private Pakistani operators missed critical February deadlines for payments and service agreements, resulting in nearly 77,000 of Pakistan’s 179,210-pilgrim quota being disqualified. The mass exclusion sparked widespread protests and prompted a federal investigation.
Officials say Saudi Arabia’s reversal highlights the close friendship between the two nations. Deputy Prime Minister Dar praised the Kingdom’s “special regard” for Pakistani worshipers.
More than 77,000 Pakistani private Hajj pilgrims have been stopped from traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025 after tour operators failed to meet critical booking deadlines.
The crisis stems from a series of administrative missteps, policy disagreements, and logistical delays.
Despite a clear bilateral agreement signed in December 2024 between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which made it mandatory to complete all Hajj bookings by 14 February 2025, most private operators missed the deadline.
As a result, Pakistan’s private Hajj quota was drastically slashed, leaving only 12,500 pilgrims cleared to proceed under the private scheme.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has since launched an official inquiry into the failure, amid growing calls for accountability. The Prime Minister’s Office described the situation as “deeply regrettable,” especially for thousands of pilgrims who had been preparing for the sacred journey.
What Went Wrong?
Hajj organizers and industry insiders have pointed to eight key factors that contributed to the debacle:
- Delays in Tent and Land Allocations in Makkah
- Early Saudi Booking Deadlines
- Confusion over Re-registration Requirements
- Mismatched Policy Rollout Between Ministries
- Foreign Currency Restrictions
- Technical System Outages
- Ineligibility of Some Overseas Pakistanis
- 38% Upfront Foreign Exchange Requirement
Operators reportedly waited on payments from pilgrims even though the State Bank of Pakistan had permitted foreign exchange transfers as early as January. That delay proved costly, effectively forfeiting their allocated Hajj slots when bookings were not completed in time.
A last-minute attempt by Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf to secure an extension from Saudi authorities was unsuccessful.
With the window for resolution rapidly closing, Hajj organizers are now urging the government to intensify diplomatic engagement with Saudi officials to negotiate a second chance. However, trust has been strained, and Saudi Arabia has already begun finalizing logistical preparations for the pilgrimage.
The incident marks the first time in Pakistan’s history that such a significant number of private pilgrims have been blocked from performing Hajj, sparking both heartbreak for would-be pilgrims and a political firestorm at home.
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