ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi highlighted Pakistan’s decision to allow visa-free entry for Saudi citizens during a meeting in Islamabad, said an official statement on Sunday, reaffirming the government’s push for closer bilateral ties and increased Gulf investment in the country.
The minister’s comments came during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, amid Pakistan’s efforts to open its doors more widely to investors and tourists from the Gulf.
In July last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced visa-free entry for businessmen from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as part of measures to attract investment and stimulate economic activity, while Pakistan was striving to recover from a prolonged financial crisis.
“There is no visa for Saudi citizens for coming to Pakistan,” Naqvi told the Saudi envoy, according to a statement released by the interior ministry. “They can come whenever they want.”
The minister made the remarks while visiting the Saudi embassy in Islamabad, where the two officials discussed bilateral cooperation, ongoing economic and social collaboration and joint efforts to curb illicit activities such as drug trafficking and human smuggling.
Islamabad has also been worried about the trend of some Pakistani nationals abusing visas to beg in foreign countries, fearing this could impact genuine visa-seekers, particularly religious pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia.
“The noose has been tightened against the beggars’ mafia,” Naqvi said, adding that new conditions are being imposed for obtaining passports to prevent illegal immigration and curb organized begging.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy longstanding diplomatic and cultural ties. More than 2.5 million Pakistanis live and work in the Kingdom, which is the largest source of remittances for the South Asian nation.
The Saudi ambassador reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment to strengthening relations with Islamabad across various sectors, according to the interior ministry statement.
Pakistan’s interior minister highlights visa-free entry for Saudis in push for closer ties
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Pakistan’s interior minister highlights visa-free entry for Saudis in push for closer ties
- Mohsin Naqvi met the Saudi envoy to discuss bilateral economic collaboration with the Kingdom
- Both officials also discussed efforts to curb illicit activities like drug trafficking, human smuggling
Pakistan to begin first phase of Hajj 2026 trainings from today
- Training programs to be held in phases across Pakistan till February, says religion ministry
- Saudi Arabia allocated Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has said that it will begin the first phase of mandatory Hajj 2026 training for pilgrims intending to perform the pilgrimage from today, Thursday.
The one-day Hajj training programs will be held in phases across the country at the tehsil level until February. The ministry directed intending pilgrims to bring their original identity cards and the computerized receipt of their Hajj application to attend the training sessions.
“Pilgrims should attend the one-day training program according to their scheduled date,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement.
The ministry said training schedules are being shared through the government’s Pak Hajj 2026 mobile application as well as via SMS. It added that details of the schedule are also available on its website.
According to the ministry, training programs will be held in Abbottabad on Jan. 2; Ghotki, Thatta and Kotli on Jan. 3; and Tando Muhammad Khan and Khairpur on Jan. 4.
Hajj training sessions will be held in Rawalakot, Badin and Naushahro Feroze on Jan. 5, while pilgrims in Fateh Jang, Dadu and Tharparkar will receive the training on Jan. 6.
The ministry said training programs will be conducted in Umerkot and Larkana on Jan. 7, followed by sessions in Mirpurkhas, Shahdadkot and Mansehra on Jan. 8.
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has previously said these trainings will be conducted by experienced trainers and scholars using multimedia.
It said the training has been made mandatory to ensure that intending pilgrims are fully aware of Hajj rituals and administrative procedures.
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026, of which around 118,000 seats have been reserved under the government scheme, while the remainder will be allocated to private tour operators.
Under Pakistan’s Hajj scheme, the estimated cost of the government package ranges from Rs1,150,000 to Rs1,250,000 ($4,049.93 to $4,236), subject to final agreements with service providers.
