By Eman Alam
ISLAMABAD: Around 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims have been deprived of performing Hajj in 2025 due to delays in agreements and payments to the Saudi government, according to Hajj organisers.
The main reason for the rejection of these applications was the failure to make timely bookings and payments to the Saudi authorities. Saudi Arabia had allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Pakistan this year, which included 89,605 spots each for the government and private tour organisers. However, only 14,000 applications were accepted under the private scheme.
Hajj organisers claimed they had made bookings for the 67,000 pilgrims and sent SAR 7 million to Saudi Arabia for these pilgrims.
However, due to delays in finalising agreements and payments, the Saudi authorities rejected their applications, leaving thousands without the chance to perform the pilgrimage.
In response to a special request from the Pakistani government, Saudi Arabia granted an additional 10,000 quotas. However, this was still insufficient to accommodate all the applicants, resulting in the exclusion of 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims.
Hajj organizers have appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene in the matter and help resolve the issue.
