Pilgrims who missed Hajj this year to be prioritized for next Hajj

Islamabad: The government has decided to give priority to more than 60,000 Hajj pilgrims who were deprived of Hajj this time for the next Hajj.

According to the details, a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs was held yesterday under the chairmanship of Chairman Malik Amir Dogar, in which Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf and others participated.

In the meeting, Amir Dogar directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs to resolve the issue of the 67,000 private pilgrims who were left behind in the future, refund their Hajj dues, and accommodate them in Hajj 2026.

On this, the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs told the committee that 365 million riyals of 63,000 pilgrims who were deprived of Hajj under the private Hajj scheme are with Saudi Arabia. The organization of private Hajj tour operators wants those who were deprived of the privilege of Hajj last year to be given priority next year.

Sardar Yousaf further said that 455,000 Hajj pilgrims have registered for Hajj 2026. The Prime Minister has also directed to prioritize these pilgrims next year. Once the report of the investigation committee formed by the Prime Minister is ready, it will be presented to the committee.

During the meeting, the committee called for a comparative briefing on the Hajj expenses of countries close to Pakistan, including India, Bangladesh, and Iran.

Officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs told the standing committee that there is an attempt to conduct the Hajj by ship to cut the cost. The Interior Minister and the Secretary of Religious Affairs are in Tehran these days, and a possible solution to conduct the Hajj by ship is under consideration. A suggestion is also being made that if luxurious buildings are not acquired for the accommodation of pilgrims, the Hajj cost can be reduced.