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
Over 200 security forces personnel killed in Balochistan militant attacks in 2025— chief minister
- Pakistani security forces launched thousands of operations, killed 760 militants, says Sarfraz Bugti
- Pakistan’s military media wing says 12 “Indian-sponsored militants” killed in Balochistan’s Kalat district
ISLAMABAD: Over 200 security forces personnel were killed in several militant attacks in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province this year, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Sunday.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by since yet its most backward by almost all social and economic indicators, has suffered from a bloody separatist insurgency for decades launched by ethnic Baloch militant groups. The most prominent among them is the Balochistan Liberation Army.
These militant outfits accuse the military and federal government of denying the local Baloch population a share in the province’s mineral wealth, charges Islamabad denies.
“We have lost [in one year] 205 security forces personnel, including paramilitary, uniformed, police, levies, and along with that, there are six officers,” Bugti told reporters during a press conference.
The chief minister said Balochistan had witnessed 900 militant attacks throughout the year, adding that the number of civilian casualties was recorded at 280.
Bugti said security forces had also launched thousands of intelligence-based operations in 2025 against militants.
“Out of those, the terrorists who have been killed so far, that is 760,” he said.
TWELVE MILITANTS KILLED IN KALAT
Separately, the Pakistani military’s media wing said on Sunday that security forces had killed 12 “Indian-sponsored militants” in Balochistan’s Kalat district on Dec. 6.
It said the militants belonged to Indian proxy “Fitna al Hindustan,” a term the military uses frequently to describe ethnic Baloch militant groups who demand independence from Pakistan. Islamabad accuses New Delhi of arming and funding these separatist groups, charges India has always denied.
“Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area,” the ISPR said.
Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan, has seen a surge in militant attacks in recent months. Pakistan’s military said on Saturday that security forces had killed five militants in the Dera Bugti area of the province.
