ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Religious Affairs Minister Aneeq Ahmed set off for Saudi Arabia on Saturday to finalize the Hajj arrangements and attend an international conference hosted by the kingdom.
Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage, is obligatory for every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able to make the journey to Makkah at least once in their lifetime.
Pakistan, with one of the largest Hajj quotas of 179,210 pilgrims in the Muslim world, also sees thousands travel to Saudi Arabia throughout the year to perform Umrah.
“Religious Affairs Minister Aneeq Ahmed has left for Saudi Arabia this evening to finalize the arrangements for the Hajj,” announced an official statement.
“The Minister will have several important meetings and review the arrangements for Hajj,” it added. “He will also participate in the Global Hajj Conference organized under the auspices of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.”
Last November, Ahmed told a gathering the government's intention to enhance facilities for Pakistani Hajj pilgrims.
He mentioned expanding the Makkah Route Initiative, previously limited to Islamabad, to Karachi in 2024.
The initiative streamlines the process for pilgrims performing Hajj under the government scheme by allowing them to complete all immigration formalities required for entry into Saudi Arabia at their local airports in Pakistan.
