ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, has announced that Pakistani pilgrims will receive VIP treatment during Hajj 2025. This marks a significant change from previous years, as complaints regarding inadequate services and support for pilgrims have been a recurring issue.
Addressing the annual Hajj Conference in Islamabad, Sardar Yousaf emphasized that this year, the government of Pakistan will ensure its pilgrims receive equal, top-tier facilities, thanks to a strong collaboration with Saudi authorities. “Our pilgrims will perform Hajj like VIPs this time around, as we’re working with Saudi officials to guarantee excellent services,” he stated.
The minister also underlined that the Ministry of Religious Affairs is not a commercial entity, highlighting that the focus is on the ideology of Pakistan and Islam. Reflecting on his past tenure since 2013, Yousaf recalled that only 5,000 Hajj applications were received back then. By 2016, that number had surged to 500,000, thanks to improved packages and better arrangements for pilgrims.
Acknowledging past challenges, the minister assured the public that coordination with Saudi authorities is now stronger. He assured that the funds sent through the official Hajj portal will be used efficiently, with efforts in place to address any remaining concerns.
Despite having held the position for only a month, Yousaf mentioned that significant steps had already been taken to streamline the Hajj experience. “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tasked me with overseeing a smooth Hajj operation, and I personally visited Saudi Arabia to review the arrangements. Many Pakistani pilgrims have already arrived,” he said.
Yousaf also shared that through his efforts, along with those of religious scholar Allama Tahir Ashrafi and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan had secured an additional 10,000 Hajj spots. He clarified that this extra quota was part of the private Hajj allocations, not a completely new allocation.
The minister concluded by reaffirming his commitment to ensuring a smooth and well-coordinated Hajj, stating, “We will fully comply with the directives laid out by the committee set up by the Prime Minister to oversee these efforts.”
