An agreement has been finalized between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025. According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Federal Minister of Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan al -Rabiah, they signed the agreement for Hajj 2025.
Under the agreement, 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj this year, Express News reported.
The agreement also focuses on offering better facilities to Pakistani pilgrims. Special spaces will be allotted for Pakistani pilgrims in Mina and fees will be reduced.
The spokesperson added that the Saudi Hajj Minister has assured full cooperation to provide better facilities to Pakistani pilgrims. To make the Hajj journey more accessible, convenient and comfortable, a shorter Hajj program of 20 to 25 days has been introduced.
Pilgrims will have the option to choose accommodation in Medina for 4 to 8 days. Each pilgrim will receive a specially designed bag containing a Pakistani flag, a QR code for identification and relevant information.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs also mentioned that a special mobile application will provide all the information to the pilgrims on their mobile phones.
Pilgrims can stay updated on their Hajj group details, training schedules, flight information, accommodation in Saudi Arabia, payments and live maps and locations of pilgrimage sites.
Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain will also participate in the four-day international Hajj conference organized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj in Jeddah. Additional agreements will be reached with organizations and companies responsible for providing services to pilgrims at the Hajj Expo.
Previously, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony authorized private Hajj organizing companies and their subsidiaries to begin bookings for Hajj 2025 on Friday.
According to a ministry spokesperson, private bookings for the Hajj program will be open from January 10 to 31.
The spokesperson said the ministry has published details of various Hajj packages under the private scheme on its official website.
He said the basic Hajj packages range between Rs 1.1 million and Rs 2.15 million, while additional premium packages exceeding Rs 3 million need to be approved by the Hajj Policy Formulation Committee.
He said private operators must make pilgrim bookings in accordance with the Service Provider Agreement (SPA). For packages exceeding Rs 3 crore, operators have to submit all details during the approval process.
Additionally, all transactions involving parcels of more than Rs 3 crore will be shared with the FBR and other relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi on Sunday announced that the booking process for private Hajj pilgrims had officially started from Friday.
Ashrafi warned that no private entity was authorized to provide visas to beggars and promised strict action against any organization found complicit in enabling the activities of the begging mafia.
