ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs will refund all Hajj pilgrims under the government scheme, following Saudi Arabia’s decision to limit the annual pilgrimage to a few people this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak, authorities said in a statement released on Tuesday.
The decision follows an emergency meeting chaired by the ministry in Islamabad last night wherein it added that “a procedure would be finalized soon to return the payments to intending pilgrims who would be informed via text messages.”
A total of 180,000 Pakistanis were scheduled to perform Hajj this year, out of which 107,526 had registered for the pilgrimage under the government program.
The move follows an announcement by Saudi authorities on Monday said that this year’s Hajj would be limited to 1,000 people to safeguard public health as part of anti-virus measures to limit the spread of the deadly disease.
Pakistan and other Muslim countries welcomed the Kingdom’s decision, saying it was in line with the principles of Shariah.
Last year, for the first time, Pakistan was included in Saudi Arabia’s ‘Road to Makkah’ project which is aimed at facilitating Hajj pilgrims from across the Muslim world.
This was after Prime Minister Imran Khan requested Saudi Arabia to include Pakistan in the project during Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s visit to Islamabad in February last year.
Pakistan to refund pilgrims after Hajj 2020 limited to Saudi residents only
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Pakistan to refund pilgrims after Hajj 2020 limited to Saudi residents only
- Ministry in charge to finalize return of payments soon
- Kingdom’s decision part of anti-virus measures to limit COVID-19 outbreak
Pakistani art and culture festival opens in Dubai
- Festival features traditional and contemporary Pakistani art and crafts
- Event follows recent Pakistan-linked cultural exhibitions in the UAE
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani art and culture festival opened in Dubai on Saturday, bringing together traditional and contemporary artistic expressions as part of efforts to promote Pakistan’s cultural heritage on an international platform.
The festival, held at the Dubai International Art Center, is a continuation of similar cultural events arranged by Pakistan in the Gulf state. The event features works by Pakistani artists and cultural vendors offering traditional clothing, jewelry and handcrafted items.
“UAE provides unique spaces and opportunities where diverse cultures converge, interact and are celebrated,” Pakistan’s Consul General Hussain Muhammad said, according to an official statement, after inaugurating the event.
“Art serves as an important instrument of soft diplomacy, helping project Pakistan’s positive image to the world and fostering people-to-people connections,” he added.
Pakistani participation in UAE cultural spaces has included artists featured at Art Dubai 2025, one of the Middle East’s major international art fairs, where Pakistani creatives exhibited works spanning modern and contemporary sections.
In 2025, Pakistani artists also presented their work at an exhibition in Ajman that highlighted Pakistan’s cultural heritage, drawing art lovers and diplomats alike.
Last year also saw an exhibition in Dubai that displayed the work of Pakistan’s late painter and calligrapher Sadequain, giving audiences in the UAE a chance to engage with the legacy of one of the country’s most iconic artists.
