74% Pakistani pilgrims deprived of Hajj opportunity this year
- 8 hours ago
Out of 67,210 Pakistanis registered under the private Hajj scheme, only 23,620 will be able to perform Hajj this year.
This means that three out of every four aspiring pilgrims will be unable to proceed under the private scheme.
Despite efforts, authorities have failed to send more than 67,000 Pakistanis for Hajj, with just one day remaining before the departure of the first flight.
According to the report, only 26% of registered pilgrims will be able to fulfil their Hajj plans, while 74% will remain deprived.
Out of the total 90,830 quota under the private Hajj scheme, only 23,620 Pakistanis managed to secure slots, the report added.
Sources revealed that an additional quota of 10,000 pilgrims was distributed among Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs confirmed that the first Hajj flight will depart from Islamabad on April 29, carrying 393 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
However, the ministry has decided not to allow private media coverage of the inaugural flight.
Meanwhile, the Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on Religious Affairs have also failed to find a solution to the issue, and so far, no one has been held responsible for depriving 7,210 pilgrims of their Hajj.
Sources said that even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot secure further concessions for pilgrims, and no progress has been made on the investigative committee's report formed on the Prime Minister’s orders.
In another development, a 45-member delegation has arrived in Pakistan to inspect arrangements for the "Road to Makkah" project.
Under the Road to Makkah initiative, 50,500 pilgrims will travel from Pakistan, with 28,000 departing from Islamabad and 20,500 from Karachi.
A total of 100 flights from Islamabad and 80 from Karachi will be operated under the project.
Dedicated counters have been set up at Islamabad and Karachi airports to complete the pilgrims’ immigration process in Pakistan instead of Saudi Arabia.
NNI News Service