ISLAMABAD
Pakistan’s request for Saudi Arabia to award an equal quota to all private Hajj tour operators for the forthcoming Hajj pilgrimage—which is scheduled to take place between June 26 and July 1, 2024—has been granted.
Saudi Arabia lowered the 65-year-old pilgrimage age limit and reinstated Pakistan’s pre-coronavirus Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year.
It is anticipated that approximately 90,000 Pakistani pilgrims would participate in the Hajj through government programs, and an equivalent number will use private travel operators to fulfill their religious obligation.
To the chagrin of individuals working in the sector, the Saudi authorities had previously cut the number of Pakistani private Hajj tour operators from 905 to 46.
Pakistan appealed to the Saudi government after talks at the official level to allocate a dedicated quota to all 904 operators, ensuring protection for numerous individuals associated with the industry. Saudi Arabian authorities agreed to this proposal, a move applauded by private tour group operators.
Under the new scheme for private Hajj operators, there will be a total of 180 groups of pilgrims, each comprising 500 people. Every private Hajj operator will now be permitted to facilitate 100 pilgrims, resulting in each group being comprised of pilgrims utilizing services from five different operators.
Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed, on November 16, unveiled Pakistan’s Hajj Policy 2024, announcing a reduction of Rs100,000 in the cost of the Hajj package under the government’s scheme for this year.
Hajj is an annual pilgrimage obligatory for every Muslim adult physically and financially capable of undertaking it. It remains one of the largest religious gatherings globally, where Muslims converge to offer prayers and perform rituals in the holy city of Makkah.
