Additional slots granted following a request by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Key Takeaways:
i) Saudi Arabia has granted Pakistan an additional Hajj quota, allowing 10,000 more Pakistani pilgrims to perform Hajj this year.
ii) The decision follows a request from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, highlighting the ongoing strong bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
iii) The Hajj operation for 2025 is scheduled to begin on April 29, with the first flight departing from Karachi.
Islamabad, Pakistan – April 12, 2025 – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar conveyed his appreciation to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud for the increased Hajj quota. This development, which followed a telephonic conversation between the two ministers on April 9th, underscores the close ties between the two nations. More information on the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Earlier announcements from Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf indicated that approximately 90,000 Pakistani pilgrims were initially expected to participate in Hajj this year through both government and private schemes. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony plays a crucial role in organizing the pilgrimage for Pakistani citizens, and further details on their policies can be accessed on their official website.
The commencement of the Hajj flight operations is set for April 29, with the inaugural flight ER 1611 scheduled to depart from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi for Madinah Munawwarah at 10:15 PM, carrying 285 pilgrims. Initially, all flights will land at Madinah Airport, with flights subsequently transitioning to Jeddah Airport starting from May 14. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national carrier, will be a key operator in this logistical undertaking, and updates on flight schedules are often available on their website.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has officially approved the complete flight schedule, which pilgrims can conveniently access through the Pak Hajj mobile application. Under the government’s Hajj scheme, a significant number of pilgrims, totaling 89,000, will be transported by five designated airlines.
PIA is slated to operate 280 special pre-Hajj flights between April 29 and June 1, utilizing Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 aircraft to transport over 56,000 pilgrims. The return flights for the post-Hajj operation are scheduled to run from June 12 to July 10.
In a move providing financial relief to pilgrims, the cost of Hajj packages has been reduced this year. The 40-day package is now priced at Rs1,050,000, reflecting a reduction of Rs25,000, while the 25-day short package is available at Rs1,100,000, marking a decrease of Rs50,000.
