ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has allocated a quota of 81,132 pilgrims to Pakistan who will be able to perform the annual Hajj ritual in 2022, reported the country’s state-owned radio channel on Sunday.
Muslims living across the world flock to Makkah and Madinah every year to undertake the spiritual journey which is obligatory for them at least once in their lifetime if they possess enough physical strength and financial ability.
“Saudi Arabia has allotted a quota of 81,132 pilgrims to Pakistan to perform Hajj this year,” stated Radio Pakistan.
It added the country’s religious affairs ministry would initiate the Hajj application process in the next few days through designated branches of scheduled banks.
Thousands of people from Pakistan perform the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on an annual basis.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, however, Saudi Arabia closed Hajj for people living in other countries, though Muslims of various nationalities residing in the kingdom were allowed to participate in the ritual under strict health safety protocols.
Earlier this month, Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the kingdom would host a million Hajj pilgrims this year while allowing people residing abroad to participate in the ritual as well.
The ministry noted that those under 65 could also perform the pilgrimage, provided that they had received vaccinations approved by the Saudi health authorities.
Pilgrims from abroad will be required to submit a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before their time of departure.
Pakistan will announce relevant information related to Hajj to specify this year’s overall cost, possible age limits and vaccination requirements through its Hajj policy, said Radio Pakistan.
Citing sources, it added the applications submitted by individuals and groups would be decided through balloting, while the distribution between public and private Hajj schemes would be done in the 60-40 ratio.
Hajj 2022: Saudi Arabia allocates quota of over 80,000 pilgrims to Pakistan
https://arab.news/9zfjv
Hajj 2022: Saudi Arabia allocates quota of over 80,000 pilgrims to Pakistan
- One million people are expected to perform the ritual after strict COVID-19 restrictions for two years
- Pakistan will initiate the Hajj application process through designated branches of scheduled banks
Pakistan police say 27 cops killed in 134 attacks in restive Bannu district in 2025
- Bannu is a restive district in northwestern Pakistan where militants frequently attack law enforcers
- Police say at least 20 drone attacks by militants killed nine civilians, injured 19 cops during the year
PESHAWAR: Police in Pakistan’s northwestern Bannu district said this week that at least 27 police personnel were killed in 134 attacks while 53 militants were killed during various security operations in the volatile area during the year, as Islamabad grapples with a surge in militancy.
Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province is one of Pakistan’s most dangerous districts, where militants affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) frequently target law enforcers in attacks.
Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan told reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday that at least 134 “terrorist attacks” were recorded in Bannu district during 2025 that targeted police stations, posts, checkpoints, police mobiles and police parties.
“As a result of these attacks, 27 police personnel were martyred and 79 were injured,” a statement issued by Bannu Police said on Wednesday.
It said at least 168 intelligence-based operations were conducted by police across the district during the year, in which 105 militants were arrested and 65 were killed.
Khan informed media that militants carried out 20 drone attacks targeting police installations and civilian areas in 2025, killing nine civilians and injuring 19 police personnel.
“However, following the installation of an anti-drone system in Bannu district on Jul. 18, 2025, the situation improved significantly,” the statement said. “More than 300 drone attacks were thwarted, and four drones were struck/spoofed.”
He said the Bannu police force has been equipped with drones, anti-drone guns, sniper rifles, armored personnel carriers (APCs), thermal imaging systems, tactical helmets and bulletproof vehicles.
“Bannu police reiterates its resolve to continue its struggle to maintain law and order in the district, completely eliminate terrorism and protect the lives and property of the public,” the statement concluded.
Pakistan blames the Afghan government for facilitating TTP attacks inside its territory, a charge Kabul denies. The surge in militant attacks has strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, leading to deadly border clashes in October that saw dozens killed and several wounded on both sides.
