An agreement has been concluded between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025. According to the spokesman of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain and the Saudi Minister for Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan al-Rabiah the agreement for Hajj 2025.
According to the agreement, 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj this year, Express News reported.
The agreement also focuses on providing better facilities to Pakistani pilgrims. Special seats will be allotted to Pakistani pilgrims at Mina and fares will be reduced.
The spokesman added that the Saudi Minister of Hajj has assured full cooperation to provide better facilities to Pakistani pilgrims. To make the Hajj journey more accessible, convenient and comfortable, a shorter Hajj program of 20 to 25 days has been introduced.
Pilgrims will have the option of choosing accommodation in Medina for 4 to 8 days. Each pilgrim receives a specially designed bag containing a Pakistani flag, a QR code for identification and relevant information.
The spokesman for Religious Affairs also mentioned that a special mobile app will provide pilgrims with all the information on their mobile phones.
Pilgrims can stay updated on their Hajj group details, training schedules, flight details, accommodation in Saudi Arabia, payments and live maps and locations of pilgrimages.
Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain will also attend the four-day International Hajj Conference organized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj in Jeddah. Additional agreements will be made with organizations and companies responsible for providing services to pilgrims at the Hajj Expo.
Earlier, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony approved private Hajj organizing companies and their subsidiaries to begin bookings for Hajj 2025 on Friday.
According to a ministry spokesman, bookings for private Hajj arrangements will be open from January 10 to 31.
The spokesman said the ministry has published details of various Hajj packages under the private scheme on its official website.
He said the basic Hajj packages range from Rs 1.1 million to Rs 2.15 million, while additional premium packages above Rs 3 million have to be approved by the ‘Hajj Policy Formulation Committee.
He said private operators must make pilgrim reservations in accordance with the Service Provider Agreement (SPA). For packages exceeding Rs3 million, operators are required to submit all details during the approval process.
Additionally, all transactions involving packages above Rs3 million will be shared with the FBR and other relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi on Sunday announced that the booking process for private Hajj pilgrims had officially begun from Friday.
Ashrafi warned that no private entity was authorized to facilitate visas for beggars and promised strict action against any organization found complicit in enabling the activities of the beggar mafia.
