Madinah (GNP): Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, announced that Pakistan has successfully utilized its full Hajj quota of 180,000 pilgrims for 2026.
Attributing this achievement to the Ministry’s exceptional performance and rigorous oversight of the private sector, the Minister noted that Pakistan has received four prestigious international awards from the Saudi government, including the distinguished ‘Labbaykum’ award.
During his visit to the Pakistan Hajj Mission’s Madinah Coordination Office (MCO), he emphasized that both government and private entities have provided exemplary services to ensure the comfort and well-being of the pilgrims.
The Minister’s visit included a comprehensive briefing from Director of Madinah, Zahid Sohail, regarding the mission’s operational infrastructure. The inspection covered various critical facilities, including the central clinic and dedicated support cells such as the Complaint, Early Departure, Lost and Found, Digital Induction, and IT cells.
Following a detailed review of both pre-Hajj and post-Hajj logistical arrangements, the Minister expressed high satisfaction, citing positive feedback from the pilgrims themselves. He commended the team under Director Zahid Sohail’s leadership for their tireless efforts and announced that they would be honored with certificates of appreciation.
Highlighting the success of this year’s pilgrimage, the Minister shared that the pre-Hajj phase, which began on April 14, saw over 46,000 pilgrims arrive in Madinah. Through integrated digital monitoring and effective strategy, 100% of these pilgrims were successfully facilitated in visiting the Riaz-ul-Jannah.
Furthermore, he noted that the Ministry prioritized the comfort of vulnerable pilgrims by securing accommodations in the ‘Markaziya’ zone, placing them in close proximity to Masjid-e-Nabawi. The Minister also credited the success of these operations to the comprehensive Hajj training provided to pilgrims in Pakistan, which fostered discipline and preparedness upon their arrival in the Kingdom.
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Looking ahead, the Minister confirmed that the second major phase of the post-Hajj operation is currently underway, involving the movement of 72,271 pilgrims from Makkah to Madinah. With over 5,000 pilgrims having already reached the city, arrangements for their visits to the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) and prayers at the Riaz-ul-Jannah are operating at full capacity.
The Minister assured that the mission has finalized the scheduling for the pilgrims’ direct return to Pakistan, with staff deployed on the ground to ensure the remainder of the journey is as efficient and comfortable as possible.
