Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stepped in to address a crisis involving the potential cancellation of Hajj for around 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims due to alleged mismanagement by private Hajj operators and the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
During a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s House attended by the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, members of the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, and representatives of private Hajj operators, the Prime Minister expressed serious concern over the situation.
Reports indicate that the operators failed to meet Saudi Arabia’s requirements, risking the travel plans of nearly half the pilgrims allotted under Pakistan’s private Hajj quota for 2025.
The crisis stems from the fact that the Saudi deadline for visa issuance was April 18. Private operators claim that they submitted payments on time but were thwarted by a technical issue on the Saudi side—a software system crash that prevented processing.
Nevertheless, the Prime Minister criticised the Ministry of Religious Affairs for failing to act proactively, describing the situation as an embarrassment for the country.
He assured the delegation that the government would engage with Saudi authorities to seek a resolution, particularly for the private scheme pilgrims.
The Pakistan Ulema Council also appealed to the Prime Minister to intervene and request leniency from Saudi officials.
Pakistan’s Hajj quota for 2025 is 179,210, with half of that allocated to private operators.
However, only about 23,000 pilgrims have managed to secure travel through the private sector, leaving the fate of the remaining 67,000 uncertain.
Delegation members, including Federal Minister Sardar Yousaf and Senate Committee Chairman Maulana Ataur Rehman, called on the Prime Minister to negotiate directly with Saudi officials. Shehbaz Sharif assured them of his full cooperation and pledged immediate action to address the issue.
Wrong Placement of Funds
Over 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims’ Hajj payments, amounting to millions of Saudi Riyals, were mistakenly transferred to the wrong bank account, putting the Hajj pilgrimage at risk. This has been a key issue for the last one month, now govt trying to resolve.
PIA Privatization
Separately, the Prime Minister also chaired a meeting on the progress of Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) privatisation.
Read More: Pakistan Slashes Hajj Assistants by 50% Due to Fewer Pilgrims
Following reports of PIA turning a profit after years of losses, Mr Sharif directed that the privatisation process be completed within the designated timeframe and under complete transparency.
He stressed that all future privatisation of state-owned enterprises should be broadcast live on television and digital platforms to ensure public oversight.
The meeting included a briefing on the investor outreach strategy, developed in consultation with advisors, detailing the bidding process, participation criteria, and timeline.
SPI Data
In an earlier development, Prime Minister Sharif expressed satisfaction with the recent economic data showing a notable drop in the Sensitive Price Index (SPI).
Also Read: Saudi Arabia Imposes Harsh Penalties for Visa Violations Ahead of Hajj Season
The SPI declined by 3.52 percent in April 2025, in stark contrast to the 26.94 percent recorded in the same month last year. This decline suggests some easing of inflationary pressure in the country, which the Prime Minister noted with optimism.
