ISLAMABAD (PEN) : A significant setback has occurred for 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims who were planning to perform Hajj through private operators, as the final deadline set by Saudi Arabia for visa issuance has passed. The deadline, which was April 18, has left many hopeful pilgrims uncertain about their chances of participating in this year’s Hajj.
Saudi Deadline Missed
Private Hajj operators have blamed a system malfunction within Saudi Arabia’s visa processing system for the delay. According to these operators, payments were made on time, before the April 18 cutoff, but the software failure on the Saudi side prevented the timely issuance of visas.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs, however, holds a different view. Officials from the ministry have suggested that private operators delayed the process themselves, which contributed to the missed deadline. This situation has resulted in only 23,000 of the allocated 67,000 Hajj slots being filled under private operators, despite the fact that Pakistan’s Hajj quota for 2025 stands at 179,210, with half designated for private operators.
Plea for Special Consideration
The Pakistan Ulema Council, a prominent religious body, has intervened, urging the Prime Minister to take action and seek special consideration from the Saudi government for the affected pilgrims. Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, the head of the Pakistan Ulema Council, has called the delay a result of mismanagement on both sides. He emphasized that the Ministry of Religious Affairs should have made the February 14 agreement deadline clearer to the public, and private operators should have ensured they complied with all the necessary procedures.
“There should have been more transparency regarding the final date,” said Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi. “The pilgrims who have saved their entire lives to make this sacred journey should not suffer due to these administrative oversights.”
Calls for Accountability
With many pilgrims facing the possibility of missing out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, both the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the private Hajj operators are being urged to take responsibility. Hafiz Ashrafi has asked the Prime Minister to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that those at fault are held accountable, to prevent similar issues in future Hajj seasons.
The situation has sparked widespread concern, as affected pilgrims are now left uncertain about whether they will be able to fulfill their religious obligation this year.
As the issue continues to unfold, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, private Hajj operators, and relevant authorities are expected to work together to find a resolution. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Ulema Council remains hopeful that the Saudi government will grant some relief to the affected pilgrims, enabling them to undertake their Hajj journey this year.
