The Saudi Arabian authorities kept the Hajj quota at 179,210 pilgrims for Pakistan throughout 2025 which remained unchanged from the previous years numbers. Both government operations and private Hajj schemes received equal balances from the total quota issued by Saudi Arabia.
Government Hajj Scheme
A total of 90,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims will conduct their religious observance through the government scheme. Pilgrims carrying out their Завят journey will receive special assistance from the Pakistani government through their initiative called “Road to Makkah.” This program enhances immigration services at Pakistani airports prior to departure.
Private Hajj Scheme
The government provided 89,801 slots to the private sector when the distribution started. The failure of private operators to obtain Mina accommodations by February 14 deadline caused Saudi booking regulations to lower the number of people who could perform Hajj under private scheme operations.
The private tour operator program will allow no more than 23,620 Pakistani pilgrims to participate in Hajj ceremonies in 2025. The number of private applicants who will not get to perform the pilgrimage this year exceeds 66,000.
Additional Quota and Government Response
To address the shortage Saudi Arabia allocated 10,000 supplementary slots within the private Hajj sector to Pakistan. The additional quota for applicants does not provide satisfactory evidence about its ability to handle the surplus candidates.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched an investigation regarding the situation with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and asked Saudi authorities for help to solve the problem.
Summary
- Total Hajj Quota for Pakistan (2025): 179,210 pilgrims
- Government Scheme: ~90,000 pilgrims
- Private Scheme: 23,620 pilgrims (reduced from 89,801)
- Unaccommodated Private Applicants: Over 66,000
- Additional Quota Granted: 10,000 slots for private scheme
This year’s Hajj arrangements have highlighted significant challenges in the management of the private Hajj scheme in Pakistan, underscoring the need for improved compliance with international regulations and more effective coordination between Pakistani authorities and Saudi counterparts.
