Saudi Arabia Grants Pakistan Extra Hajj Slots for 2025
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has stated that Saudi Arabia has granted Pakistan an additional quota of 10,000 pilgrims for Hajj.
In a social media post, Ishaq Dar wrote that he is grateful to his brother, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, for approving an extra 10,000 Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan for this year.
Ishaq Dar added that he spoke with the Saudi Foreign Minister over the phone on Wednesday, after which the additional quota was approved on special grounds. It is important to note that Pakistan’s Hajj quota for 2025 was initially set at 179,210 pilgrims, which has now been increased by 10,000.
However, the request for additional pilgrims was made to accommodate citizens who missed the Hajj registration deadline.
According to Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, approximately 90,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj under the government-sponsored scheme. As per Pakistan’s official news agency APP, Saudi Arabia decided to grant Pakistan an additional 10,000 Hajj slots following the special directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the diplomatic efforts of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
Pakistan’s Hajj operations will officially begin on April 29 from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, where the first Hajj flight by Serene Air will depart.
On April 29, Serene Air’s flight ER-1611 will carry 285 pilgrims to Madinah Munawara at 10:15 PM. This marks the start of Hajj activities nationwide.
Subsequently, Air Blue’s flight PA-1766 will depart at 3:40 AM on April 30, carrying 148 pilgrims.
All initial flights will land at Madinah’s airport, while most flights after May 14 will arrive at Jeddah’s airport. However, some flights will continue to operate for Madinah.
In a significant diplomatic win, Saudi Arabia has approved an additional 10,000 Hajj slots for Pakistan, raising the country’s total quota to 189,210 pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj season. The announcement was made by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who credited Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud for the decision.
Key Details:
- Diplomatic Collaboration: The approval came after a direct phone call between Dar and Prince Faisal on Wednesday, reflecting the strong bilateral ties between the two nations.
- Deadline Relief: The extra slots aim to assist Pakistani citizens who missed the Hajj registration deadline, ensuring more Muslims can fulfill this sacred obligation.
- Government Scheme: Around 90,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj under Pakistan’s government-sponsored program, which offers subsidized packages to ease financial burdens.
Hajj Flight Operations:
- Launch Date: Operations begin on April 29, 2025, with Serene Air’s inaugural flight from Karachi to Madinah.
- Flight Schedule:
- Serene Air (ER-1611): Departs Karachi at 10:15 PM with 285 pilgrims.
- Air Blue (PA-1766): Departs on April 30 at 3:40 AM with 148 pilgrims.
- Airport Focus: Early flights will land in Madinah, while Jeddah becomes the primary entry point after May 14.
