Madinah Munawwarah, June 22,2026: The Pakistan Hajj Mission in Madinah has set a historic record during this year’s Hajj operation by successfully facilitating Riaz-ul-Jannah visits for 100% of the government-scheme Pakistani pilgrims through official permits. During this unprecedented operation, over 46,000 pilgrims were accommodated in the pre-Hajj phase, followed by more than 73,500 pilgrims in the post-Hajj phase. In total, over 119,000 Pakistani pilgrims were blessed with the opportunity to offer prayers at the sacred site.
According to Director Hajj Madinah Zahid Sohail, this marks the first time that every single government pilgrim could pay respects at the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) and offer Nawafil at Riaz-ul-Jannah. He explained that to ensure strict compliance with Saudi regulations and schedules, the mission utilized the official Nusuk Masar platform for the successful issuance of permits across both the pre-Hajj and post-Hajj phases.
A digital mechanism was deployed to secure these permits, according to data from the Hajj Mission. While 12,000 permits were acquired directly via smartphone apps, the Hajj Mission generated 110,292 permits through the E-Nusuk Masar system. This proactive measure was taken to ensure elderly, unlettered, or non-smartphone-using pilgrims faced zero inconvenience.
Managing such a massive crowd was a major challenge, but the specialized coordination team remained alert 24/7, according to team in-charge Rai Asif Iqbal Kharal. He detailed that his team systematically escorted large groups of hundreds of pilgrims daily at 11:00 AM and 2:00 AM. Moving in organized queues following strict permit screening, this disciplined approach also significantly assisted Saudi authorities in managing crowd control at the holy site.
To maximize comfort and facilitate devotion, highly streamlined schedules were established for both male and female pilgrims. Dedicated slots have been allocated specifically for female pilgrims to ensure a peaceful and serene experience. Their designated times include slots immediately after Maghrib prayers, at midnight, and immediately following Fajr prayers, allowing them to perform their rituals with complete peace of mind and spiritual focus.
