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Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan prepares for early rollout of Hajj 2026 registration
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs is finalizing preparations to launch early registration for both private and government Hajj 2026 schemes to streamline the pilgrimage process, state media reported on Wednesday. The move follows a directive from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to begin preparations for Hajj 2026 well in advance. This year's Hajj pilgrimage took place from June 4 to June 9, drawing millions of worshippers to Islam's holiest sites in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan sent more than 115,000 pilgrims under both government and private schemes. 'The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony is finalizing preparations to begin early registration for Hajj 2026 within the next few days,' the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said. It added that advance registration would be mandatory for all intending pilgrims under both the government and private schemes and applicants would have to submit a specified token amount with their registration forms, which would later be adjusted against the total Hajj package cost. Only designated banks will be authorized to handle registrations, which will be a prerequisite for eligibility under the Hajj 2026 program, APP said. Pilgrims will be able to choose between the government and private Hajj schemes after completing the initial registration process. Individuals who missed this year's Hajj under the private scheme must complete a fresh registration to be eligible for Hajj 2026, according to the APP report. 'The registration data will be shared with the Saudi authorities, who will use it to allocate Pakistan's official Hajj quota,' APP said. A formal advertisement detailing the registration procedure and eligibility requirements will be issued in the coming days. Pakistan's Director General Hajj, Abdul Wahab Soomro, said this week the government would strive to make next year's pilgrimage 'even better' for pilgrims, with improved facilities, especially for the elderly. Pakistan began its post-Hajj flight operations on June 11 with the arrival of a Pakistan International Airlines flight, PK-732, in Islamabad carrying 307 pilgrims. The flights are expected to conclude by July 10. According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, more than 11,400 pilgrims, including around 3,000 from Madinah, have returned to Pakistan so far.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Arab News
Pakistan vows more facilities for elderly pilgrims in ‘even better' Hajj 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Director General Hajj Abdul Wahab Soomro this week vowed that the government would try to ensure next year's pilgrimage is 'even better' for pilgrims, promising more facilities for the elderly ones. This year's Hajj took place from June 4 to June 9, drawing millions of pilgrims to the holy cities in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan sent over 115,000 pilgrims under both the government and private schemes. Speaking at a ceremony held to acknowledge the services of the Pakistani welfare staff during Hajj in Makkah, Soomro said the government introduces new measures every Hajj for its pilgrims and would continue to do so. 'In the next Hajj, we will try to make it even better,' Soomro said on Monday. 'We will try to ensure that aged pilgrims, for example, are not allocated a room above the first floor.' The Pakistani official said the government would also try to ensure that elderly pilgrims are provided accommodations close to the Mashair, or holy sites in Makkah, for their convenience. 'So, these small things that we are adding every year are enriching the overall experience of the pilgrim,' Soomro said. Dr. Syed Ata ur Rehman, Pakistan's secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, also spoke at the event. He reminded authorities that the post-Hajj flight operation will continue until the last Pakistani pilgrim and welfare staff return to the country. 'Therefore, the remaining part of the operation should be carried out with the same diligence, attention and caution so that the glory of this success does not diminish,' Rehman told participants. Pakistan began its post-Hajj flight operation with the arrival of the Pakistan International Airline flight PK-732 in Islamabad on June 11, carrying 307 pilgrims. The country is expected to conclude the operation on July 10. Over 11,400 pilgrims, including around 3,000 from Madinah, have returned to Pakistan so far, as per figures provided by Pakistan's religious affairs minister. The government has announced it has begun preparations for Hajj 2026 as it has received the Saudi Hajj policy and timeline for next year's pilgrimage.
Arab News
29-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Pakistan secures Hajj facilities upgrade through deal with Saudi Al-Rajhi company
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has finalized arrangements for its Hajj pilgrims in coordination with Saudi Arabia's Al-Rajhi company, upgrading tents and amenities at key pilgrimage sites under a new agreement aimed at improving services for those traveling under the Government Hajj Scheme, an official confirmed Thursday. The deal with Al-Rajhi, a licensed Tawafa company responsible for assisting foreign pilgrims in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, marks a significant step in elevating standards traditionally reserved for private tour groups. The move comes as Pakistan seeks to improve the experience for nearly 89,000 pilgrims performing Hajj this year under the state-run scheme. In total, 114,698 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj beginning June 4, including 25,698 under private operators. As of Thursday, 84,638 government-sponsored pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia on 329 flights, while 17,959 private pilgrims had also reached the kingdom. Pre-Hajj flight operations are scheduled to conclude on May 31. 'An agreement was signed with the Tawafa company Al-Rajhi for Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, and all arrangements and facilities at the sacred sites are being finalized for this year's Hajj,' Muhammad Umer Butt, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told Arab News from Makkah over the phone. He said pilgrims under the Government Hajj Scheme will now benefit from upgraded camp infrastructure. 'Air conditioners and extra fans have been added to the tents along with air coolers,' he informed, adding that modern sofa-cum-beds with partitions on both sides have been introduced to prevent the spread of infections caused by breathing or sweating. Additional improvements include luggage racks, sliding doors in place of traditional tarpaulin sheets, gypsum board tent walls, artificial grass carpeting in corridors, protective sunshades, fans along walkways and designated shoe racks. For the first time, Pakistani medical teams will be stationed at each camp to provide support in addition to Saudi medical services. 'A first aid team will be added to every camp, where doctors and medical staff will be available at all times,' Butt said. He said Pakistan's Hajj mission had also worked closely with Saudi authorities and the Maktab system to implement a transport strategy across the sacred sites, or Mashair, to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims. 'Saudi authorities have issued special instructions to protect pilgrims from the extreme weather conditions, and our mission ensures that these instructions are communicated clearly and understandably to all Pakistani pilgrims,' he added. A dedicated complaint management cell has been set up to address pilgrims' concerns in real time. 'A total of 2,241 complaints were received regarding lost luggage, out of which 2,209 were resolved with the luggage delivered to the concerned pilgrims,' Butt said. 'In Madinah, 636 bags were misplaced during handling, of which 630 were recovered and returned,' he continued. He said that around two dozen pilgrims who had gone missing from their groups in Makkah and Madinah were also successfully located and reunited. More than 39,000 Pakistani pilgrims completed their visit to Riyad al-Jannah — the sacred area in Masjid al-Nabawi believed to be a garden from Paradise — mostly using the official Nusuk app in Madinah. For those unfamiliar with the digital system, special permits were arranged for 14,000 individuals. Butt praised Saudi Arabia's digital Hajj infrastructure and logistical planning, which he said had greatly eased the pilgrimage experience for visitors from around the world.
Arab News
27-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Pakistan's moon sighting committee to meet today to determine Eid Al-Adha dates
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's moon sighting committee will meet in Islamabad today, Tuesday, to observe the crescent marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah and announce the dates for the Eid Al-Adha festival, the ministry of religious affairs said. Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar, a sacred month during which the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid Al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, take place. It is considered one of the four holy months in the Islamic calendar, with its first ten days particularly revered and considered the best days of the year for performing righteous deeds. Commemorating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son on God's command, Muslims mark the Eid Al-Adha holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep, cows and goats. The meat is shared among family and friends and also donated to the poor. Eid Al-Adha is observed on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah. 'The meeting of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee for sighting the moon of Dhul Hijjah 1446 AH will be held in the evening of Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Islamabad,' the ministry of religious affairs said in a notification. Meetings of the zonal and district committees would also be held at their respective headquarters in parallel, it added. The chairman of Pakistan's moon sighting committee would subsequently announce a decision on the date for Eid Al-Adha based on testimonies received from different corners of the country about the sighting of the new crescent. Eid Al-Adha is expected to fall on June 7 this year while the annual Hajj pilgrimage will commence on June 4.
Arab News
23-05-2025
- Arab News
Indonesian pilgrims embark on Hajj journey under Makkah Route expansion
JAKARTA: More than 120,000 Indonesian pilgrims are benefiting from the Makkah Route initiative this year, as they embark on Hajj after the flagship Saudi program was expanded to three cities across the country. Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation, sends the largest Hajj contingent of pilgrims every year to perform the spiritual journey that is one of the five pillars of Islam. In 2025, Saudi Arabia granted Indonesia a quota of 221,000 pilgrims. With the Hajj expected to take place on June 4 and end on June 9, special pilgrimage flights from Indonesia started on May 2. Over half of the pilgrims are departing under the pre-travel program, which was launched by the Kingdom in 2019 to help pilgrims meet all the visa, customs and health requirements at their airport of origin and save them long hours of waiting before and upon arrival in the Kingdom. 'In Indonesia, Makkah Route is implemented in three airports, Soekarno-Hatta in Jakarta, and then in the cities of Solo and Surabaya,' Mohammed Zain, director of domestic Hajj services at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told Arab News. The initiative was only expanded in 2024 to reach more Indonesian pilgrims in different parts of the country. This year, a total of 122,156 Indonesian pilgrims, who are departing from the three selected cities, are benefiting from the program. 'This is very helpful in sorting all of the pilgrims' document requirements, like visa and passport, so that when the pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia, they simply head to their buses and go on their spiritual journey safely and comfortably,' Zain said. 'We hope that for Hajj next year, the Makkah Route initiative will be further expanded in Indonesia, so that we can offer more high-quality Hajj service.' In Jakarta, the program is implemented at the new Hajj and Umrah terminal in Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, which was inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto earlier this month. Over 125,000 pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom as of Tuesday. Indonesia is among seven Muslim-majority countries — including Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Morocco, Turkiye and Cote d'Ivoire — where Saudi Arabia is operating its Makkah Route initiative.
