The federal government has approved Hajj Policy 2026 in line with guidelines issued by Saudi Arabia, Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said on Monday.
In a podcast interview with Radio Pakistan, he confirmed that Pakistan’s Hajj quota for 2026 is 179,210 pilgrims.
He said around 120,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj under the government scheme while about 60,000 will go through private operators. He added that training for Hajj 2026 has already started across the country.
Mandatory training sessions are being held in different districts to prepare pilgrims for the journey and the rituals.
The minister also said that nearly 38,000 pilgrims will travel from Islamabad under the “Road to Makkah” project. This facility is currently available in Islamabad and Karachi.
Efforts are underway to extend it to Lahore as well to make travel easier for more pilgrims.
Hajj preparations and new travel facilities
Sardar Yousaf said the new policy focuses on better organization, training and facilities for pilgrims. He said the government wants to ensure that pilgrims face fewer problems and complete their religious duty with ease.
The Road to Makkah project allows immigration processes to be completed in Pakistan which saves time on arrival in Saudi Arabia.
He also said the ministry has introduced a new centralized system to manage pilgrimages by Zaireen to holy sites in Iran and Iraq. This system will improve coordination and reduce complaints.
Interfaith harmony and minority rights
Talking about interfaith harmony, the minister said the Constitution gives equal rights to all minority communities in Pakistan.
He said the government provides scholarships to minority students, funds for the repair of worship places and financial help to deserving families. Minorities also have job quotas and representation in parliament.
He said religious communities in India are facing difficulties and referred to incidents of vandalism during Christmas last year. He said Pakistan will continue to promote harmony, respect and equal rights for all communities.
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