Thousands of Pakistani pilgrims to miss out on Hajj 2025 due to limited quota

Islamabad [
Pakistan
], April 28 (ANI): Only 23,620 private
Pakistan
i
Hajj
pilgrims will be able to perform this year’s pilgrimage, leaving over 67,000 others unable to participate, with only a day remaining before the first flight departs, ARY News reported.

The first flight from Islamabad to
Saudi Arabia
is set to take off on April 29, marking the start of
Pakistan
‘s
Hajj
2025 operations.

Out of the 90,830 pilgrims who were initially set to travel under the private scheme, only 23,620 will be able to perform
Hajj
. This means that only 26 per cent of private pilgrims will be granted the opportunity, leaving three out of every four
Pakistan
i pilgrims unable to participate, ARY News reported on Sunday.

According to reports, despite the Prime Minister’s instructions to form an investigative committee, no progress has been made on resolving the issue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also confirmed that it was unable to secure any special concessions for
Hajj
2025 pilgrims.

According to ARY News, the responsibility for the 67,210 pilgrims who will be left behind remains undetermined.

The first flight, carrying 393 pilgrims from Islamabad, is scheduled to depart on April 29. Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs welcomed the Road to Makkah delegation at Islamabad Airport, marking the beginning of this year’s
Hajj
operations.

In total, 50,500
Pakistan
i pilgrims will travel to
Saudi Arabia
under the Road to Makkah project for
Hajj
2025. Of these, 28,000 will depart from Islamabad, and 22,500 will fly from Karachi.

According to the Ministry, 100 flights from Islamabad and 80 flights from Karachi will operate under the Road to Makkah project, with dedicated counters set up at both airports.

The immigration process for
Hajj
2025 pilgrims will be completed in
Pakistan
, rather than
Saudi Arabia
. (ANI)