ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has officially requested Saudi Arabia to increase its Hajj quota to 230,000 pilgrims in proportion to the country’s population, aiming to allow more citizens to perform the sacred pilgrimage.
According to Radio Pakistan, Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousuf shared this information with the media in Islamabad.
He stated that under the “Route to Mecca” project, over 33,000 pilgrims will travel from Islamabad, and efforts are underway to extend this facility to Lahore, as currently only Islamabad and Karachi benefit from it.
The minister confirmed that the government has finalized arrangements for Hajj 2026 according to Saudi guidance. Saudi Arabia has currently allocated a quota of 118,210 seats for the government scheme and the remaining for private tour operators.
He emphasized that mandatory Hajj training programs are being conducted to ensure pilgrims are fully familiar with Hajj rituals and administrative procedures. The first phase of these training programs will continue across Pakistan until February 2026.
