ISLAMABAD: Pakistan concluded its month-long pre-Hajj flight operations on Monday, the country’s religion ministry confirmed, after the last flight carrying pilgrims performing the Hajj under the government’s scheme left for Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan kicked off its pre-Hajj flight operations to Saudi Arabia on May 9 to transport pilgrims who will perform the pilgrimage under the government’s scheme. Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which around 70,000 people are expected to perform the pilgrimage under the government scheme while the rest will use private tour operators. This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14-19.
The last flight which was a part of the Hajj operation left for Saudi Arabia with 380 Pakistani pilgrims on Monday, the country’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement.
“The successful operation is a result of the Ministry of Religious Affair’s tireless efforts,” Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Pakistan’s minister for religious affairs, said.
Hussain described Hajj as a “sacred” duty for Muslims, saying that the government will continue its efforts to provide all facilities for the pilgrims.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring every adult Muslim to undertake the pilgrimage to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able.
A 400-member dedicated Pakistan Hajj Medical Mission is also working around the clock to serve Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has established two hospitals and 11 dispensaries in the Saudi cities of Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah to provide health care to Hajj pilgrims.
A government official said earlier this month that out of Pakistan’s total quota of 179,210 pilgrims, around 160,000 pilgrims from the country are expected to perform the pilgrimage.
Pakistan concludes month-long pre-Hajj flight operation
https://arab.news/m78g4
Pakistan concludes month-long pre-Hajj flight operation
- Pakistan started flight operations to transport around 70,000 pilgrims on May 9
- Last Hajj flight leaves for Saudi Arabia with 380 Pakistani pilgrims, says religion ministry
Pakistan expands crypto engagement with appearance at Mar-a-Lago finance forum
- Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority Chairman Bilal bin Saqib attends World Liberty Financial event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate
- Discussions focused on future of global financial infrastructure, digital assets, stablecoins, capital markets innovation, says Saqib’s office
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman and Minister of State Bilal bin Saqib joined global finance leaders at an event hosted by World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture linked to US President Donald Trump’s family, Saqib’s office said on Thursday.
The event was hosted by World Liberty Financial, a crypto-based finance platform launched in September 2024 linked to Trump’s family. According to Saqib’s office, the gathering was held at Mar-a-Lago, the private estate and club owned by Trump in Florida.
Speakers and attendees at the event included David Solomon, chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, Adena Friedman, chairperson and CEO of Nasdaq as well as Lynn Martin, president of the New York Stock Exchange, Saqib’s office said. The event was organized and hosted by Eric Trump and American businesspersons Zach Witkoff and Alex Witkoff.
“Discussions focused on the future of global financial infrastructure, digital assets, stablecoins, capital markets innovation and the evolving relationship between regulation and emerging financial technologies,” the statement said.
It said Saqib’s attendance at the event reflected Pakistan’s growing engagement with global discussions shaping the next phase of financial and technological transformation.
“As Pakistan moves toward modernizing its financial infrastructure and strengthening its position in the global digital economy, such high-level engagements signal increasing international recognition of the country’s regulatory direction and leadership,” the statement added.
Last month, Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding with a company affiliated with World Liberty Financial to explore the use of a dollar-linked stablecoin for cross-border payments.
Pakistan has stepped up efforts recently to regulate its digital asset sector and is exploring digital currency initiatives as part of broader measures to reduce cash usage.
