Web Desk
On Monday, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the annual Hajj agreement for 2025, which will allow 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims to perform Hajj this year. As part of the agreement, special arrangements, including discounted accommodations in Mina, will be made for the pilgrims.
The agreement was signed in Jeddah by Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan al-Rabiah. Pakistan has been allocated one of the largest Hajj quotas by Saudi Arabia.
Under the agreement, Pakistani pilgrims will receive top-tier facilities, including special accommodations in Mina. The Saudi minister assured that all necessary support would be provided to ensure the best possible experience for Pakistani pilgrims.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs also introduced a short Hajj program, lasting 20 to 25 days, to make the pilgrimage more accessible, comfortable, and convenient. This program will allow pilgrims to stay in Madinah for 10 to 15 days.
Additionally, each pilgrim will receive a special package containing a Pakistani pin and a QR code for identification and relevant information. A dedicated mobile app will provide updates on Hajj groups, flight details, teaching schedules, live maps, and accommodation locations in Saudi Arabia.
According to the Hajj Policy 2025, Pakistani women must obtain consent from their husbands or parents to register for Hajj.
While women can travel without a male guardian (mahram) as per the guidelines of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), this consent requirement remains. The policy also specifies that minors under the age of 18 are not allowed to perform Hajj, in line with Saudi regulations.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is an annual pilgrimage to Makkah and its surrounding areas. It is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, and every Muslim who is able is required to perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime. Pakistan regularly receives one of the largest Hajj quotas from Saudi Arabia.
