ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has signed an agreement with Saudi Airlines to facilitate travel of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims, Pakistani state media reported on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia has allotted Pakistan a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims, to be divided equally between government and private schemes.
Under the agreement with the Pakistani religious affairs ministry, Saudi Airlines will provide travel services for 35,000 Pakistani government-sponsored Hajj pilgrims, the state-run APP news agency reported.
“The agreement was formalized during a ceremony attended by Sultan Al-Harbi, Country Manager of Saudi Airlines in Pakistan, and Dr. Syed Ata-ur-Rehman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony,” the report read.
“This collaboration follows a previous agreement between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which also pledged travel arrangements for 35,000 pilgrims as part of this year’s Hajj operations.”
The religious affairs ministry has also signed an agreement with the Pakistan’s National Testing Service (NTS), which will hold exams for the selection of supervisors and assistants for next year’s pilgrimage, the ministry said this month.
Pakistan selects hundreds of assistants and doctors from federal and provincial government departments via a competitive process every year to facilitate local pilgrims in performing the rituals of the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The ministry said it would “soon” announce the selection through an advertisement.
The Pakistani government approved a new Hajj policy in November.
The cost of next year’s Hajj under the government scheme is expected to range between Rs1,075,000 to Rs1,175,000, while an additional cost for the sacrifice of animals during the pilgrimage will be Rs55,000, according to the ministry.
The first installment of Hajj dues, amounting to Rs200,000, have to be deposited at the time of the application, while the second installment of Rs400,000 will be paid within ten days of the balloting and if your name is picked in the lucky draw. The remaining amount can be paid by Feb. 10 next year.
Pakistani ministry, Saudi Airlines ink agreement to facilitate Hajj pilgrims — state media
https://arab.news/yy87x
Pakistani ministry, Saudi Airlines ink agreement to facilitate Hajj pilgrims — state media
- Saudi Arabia has allotted Pakistan a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims, to be divided between government and private schemes
- Saudi Airlines will provide travel services for 35,000 Pakistani government-sponsored Hajj pilgrims under the new agreement
Pakistan eyes enhancing mines, minerals cooperation with Saudi Arabia at Future Minerals Forum 2026
- Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik meets Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef in Riyadh
- Saudi minister offers to support Pakistan’s mining industry via Kingdom’s knowledge and expertise, says Pakistan’s petroleum ministry
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met Saudi Arabia’s minister of industry and mineral resources at the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh on Monday, the Pakistani petroleum ministry said, during which both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the mines and minerals sector.
Malik is leading the Pakistani delegation at the FMF 2026 summit in Riyadh. The Jan. 13-15 event is expected to attract around 20,000 representatives from governments, businesses, multilateral and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and trade associations from more than 160 countries, organizers said. At least 13 public and private companies from Pakistan’s mines and mineral sector are participating in the event.
“The minister held a meeting with Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef, during which both sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the minerals and mining sector,” the Pakistani petroleum ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said Alkhorayef pointed out “vast opportunities” for cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the mineral sector, adding that the Kingdom would support the development of Pakistan’s mining industry through its knowledge and technical expertise.
Malik said fertilizer production and medical devices manufacturing sectors also present important opportunities for joint ventures between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a leader in the global minerals and energy sectors and accelerated investments in green technologies, sustainable mining practices and international collaborations that are shaping the future of the mines and mineral industry.
Pakistan organized a minerals summit in April 2025 which saw participation from major international companies including the Canada-based Barrick Gold and officials from the US, Saudi Arabia, China, Türkiye, UK, Azerbaijan and other nations.
Islamabad also plans to organize a Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum this year to attract foreign investment in its mines and minerals sector. Pakistan lies in the middle of the mineral-rich geological zone, called the ‘Tethyan Belt,’ where one of the world’s largest copper-gold mines is currently under development at Reko Diq.
This mine is expected to start production by 2028.
