Islamabad, April 23, 2025: The fate of approximately 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims due to perform Hajj this year now lies entirely with Saudi authorities, the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Secretary, Dr. Attaur Rehman, told the Senate’s Standing Committee on Religious Affairs on Wednesday.
Dr. Rehman explained that delays in finalizing agreements and transferring payments to the Saudi government have effectively removed Pakistan’s ability to send these pilgrims. “The matter is no longer in the government’s hands,” he said, underscoring that all decisions now depend on Saudi Arabia’s Hajj quota allocations and policies.
The committee was briefed on Riyadh’s 2025 Hajj regulations, which bar any group organiser with a quota under 2,000 pilgrims. As a result, 904 smaller operators have been consolidated into just 45 large Hajj companies. Dr. Rehman noted that while this aims to streamline operations, it has exacerbated confusion for private organisers and thousands of pilgrims awaiting clearance.
Representatives of the Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) told senators they stand ready to refund all pilgrims in full—once they recover funds from Saudi Arabia—and to offer them first priority for Hajj 2026 using the same deposits. Senators on the committee unanimously demanded that any refunds be processed “without deductions” and as swiftly as possible.
Despite securing an additional 10,000 private-quota slots—on par with increases granted to India and Bangladesh—Pakistan’s pilgrims remain stranded. India received an extra 10,000 places atop its 52,000-strong contingent, while Bangladesh also benefited from a similar expansion.
In what has been termed a “scandal,” HOAP disclosed that millions of Saudi Riyals destined for Hajj payments were erroneously wired to an incorrect account, jeopardizing the pilgrimage of over 67,000 Pakistanis. Although private operators claim they remitted the correct funds before the October 23 deadline—albeit without formal notification of that deadline—this misdirection has left thousands still awaiting confirmation.
The committee, chaired by Senator Malik Amir Dogar, pressed for immediate transparency and accountability, urging the Ministry of Religious Affairs to pursue rapid coordination with Saudi authorities so that stranded pilgrims can either proceed to Mecca or receive prompt reimbursement.
