ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the reported failure of Pakistani authorities to meet the requirements set by Saudi Arabia for utilising the private Hajj quota allocated for 70,000 pilgrims.
The committee, headed by Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Afzal, includes FBR Chairman Chaudhary Rashid Mahmood Langrial and Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Secretary Abrar Ahmad Mirza. It is expected to submit its findings to the Prime Minister within three days, local media reported on Saturday.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is an obligatory pilgrimage for Muslims who are physically and financially able. Held annually in Makkah and surrounding areas, it involves several days of rituals and is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Pakistan receives one of the highest pilgrim quotas from Saudi Arabia, with 179,210 Pakistanis set to perform Hajj this year.
According to a government notification, the Prime Minister took serious note of the failure to utilize the private Hajj quota for 2025 due to non-compliance with Saudi regulations. He ordered the formation of the inquiry committee to evaluate the situation and review the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ compliance with Saudi policies for private Hajj operators.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, who assumed office last month, said he had briefed the Prime Minister on the matter and clarified that major arrangements were already in place before he took charge. Former minister Chaudhary Salik Hussain, who previously held the ministry’s additional charge, was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, the government has announced a reduction in Hajj costs. The 40-day package has been decreased by Rs25,000 to Rs1,050,000, while the 25-day short Hajj package has been reduced by Rs50,000, bringing the new price to Rs1,100,000.
