ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs launched four smartphone apps to facilitate Hajj pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
“The purpose is to provide guidance to pilgrims and help them in every possible way,” Imran Siddiqui, the ministry’s spokesperson told Arab News on Monday.
Siddiqui said that the Rehnuma-e-Hajj (Guidance for Hajj) app is very useful as it provides information about the complete set of rituals during the pilgrimage. “We have uploaded a comprehensive booklet and documentary about Hajj, so everything related to Hajj is in this app,” he said.
Additionally, the Hajj Muavineen (Hajj helpers) app includes information about paramedics and other staff that have been deputed by the Pakistani government to assist the pilgrims, while the Mina Locator app will help them find the routes to different camps in Mina and other locations.
The fourth app, termed Hajj Complaints, can be used by pilgrims “to register complaints.”
Pakistan began its Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia from July 4 for its 200,000 nationals performing Hajj this year.
For the purpose, a team of Saudi officials had visited the capital in the last week of June to install an immigration system at the Islamabad International Airport.
The move, part of the ‘Road to Makkah’ project, follows Pakistan’s inclusion in the initiative as per the directives of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during his visit to the country in February this year.
According to the religious ministry, more than 25,000 pilgrims from Pakistan have already reached Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage this year.
Four smartphone apps launched to facilitate Hajj pilgrims, says religious ministry
Four smartphone apps launched to facilitate Hajj pilgrims, says religious ministry
- Move aimed at facilitating nationals during their stay in Saudi Arabia
- More than 200,000 expected to perform the pilgrimage this year
Minister says Pakistan’s Hajj 2026 policy ‘effective,’ in line with Saudi guidelines
- A large portion of the Pakistan’s private Hajj quota for 2025 remained unutilized due to delays by tour operators
- While the government fulfilled its full allocation, private operators attributed the shortfall to technical issues
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has said the government formulated an “effective” Hajj Policy 2026 that is in accordance with guidelines issued by Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan approved the Hajj 2026 policy in July, under which the country has a quota of 179,210 pilgrims. Of which, around 120,000 seats have been allocated for the government scheme and the rest for private tour operators.
The government ensured digitization of Hajj services, electronic monitoring and complaint system, long and short duration Hajj packages, and prioritizing those who could not perform the pilgrimage under the private scheme last year.
Speaking to the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster, Yousaf said that the government is trying to expand the “Route to Makkah” facility to Lahore. The initiative allows pilgrims to complete travel formalities at their departure airports.
“Training for the 2026 Hajj is currently underway across the country, with mandatory sessions being conducted in various districts,” the minister was quoted as saying.
A large portion of the Pakistan’s private Hajj quota for 2025 remained unutilized due to delays by tour operators in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government fulfilled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.
Private operators had attributed the shortfall to technical issues, including payment processing problems and communication breakdowns.
Pakistan this month also requested Saudi Arabia to increase its Hajj quota in proportion to the country’s population of 240 million, Radio Pakistan reported.
“Pakistan has formally requested the Saudi government to increase its Hajj quota to 230,000, in proportion to the country’s population, to allow more people to undertake the pilgrimage,” Yousaf was quoted as saying.
