JEDDAH – UNS: Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have formally signed an agreement regarding arrangements for Hajj 2026, the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced on Sunday.
The agreement was signed in Jeddah on Saturday night by Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdul Fattah bin Sulaiman Al-Mashat and Pakistan’s Secretary for Religious Affairs Dr. Syed Atta-ur-Rehman.
Expressing his gratitude to the Saudi government, Dr. Rehman lauded its continued efforts to facilitate pilgrims from across the world and voiced optimism that Pakistani pilgrims will continue to receive high-quality facilities during the upcoming Hajj season.
“The Ministry of Religious Affairs is committed to ensuring timely and effective arrangements for both government and private Hajj schemes, in line with the guidance of the Saudi authorities,” Dr. Rehman said.
Under the agreement, Pakistan has been allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026. Of these, approximately 118,000 seats have been reserved under the government scheme, while the remainder will be managed by private tour operators.
The estimated cost of the government Hajj package will range between Rs1,150,000 and Rs1,250,000 (approximately $4,050–$4,236), subject to final agreements with service providers.
Applicants were required to pay an initial installment of Rs500,000 ($1,764) or Rs550,000 ($1,941)—depending on the selected package—in August 2025, while the remaining balance will be collected in November.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to making comprehensive and transparent arrangements to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching Hajj experience for all Pakistani pilgrims.
