Pakistan organizes second phase of Hajj training for 2026 pilgrims in Islamabad

A Pakistani Hajj pilgrim arrives at The Hajj Complex in Islamabad on August 23, 2016, before leaving for the annual Hajj pilgrimage to the Islamic holy cities of Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia. (AFP/File)
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Updated 11 January 2026
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Pakistan organizes second phase of Hajj training for 2026 pilgrims in Islamabad

  • Training sessions held to inform pilgrims of various stages of Hajj, precautionary measures, obligatory acts, says state media 
  • Pilgrims told to improve their physical fitness, keep essential travel documents and vaccination cards ready ahead of Hajj 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs organized the second phase of Hajj training for 2026 pilgrims in Islamabad today, Sunday, state media reported. 

Pakistan’s religion ministry kicked off the first phase of the mandatory Hajj trainings last Sunday in Islamabad and other cities. The ministry said the trainings were made mandatory to ensure that intending pilgrims are fully aware of Hajj rituals and administrative procedures. 

“Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony organized second phase of Hajj training session for pilgrims in Islamabad today,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

It said the primary objective of the program was to provide awareness about the various stages of the pilgrimage, necessary precautionary measures and the obligatory acts of both Hajj and Umrah.

“Pilgrims were advised to improve their physical fitness by walking 2 to 3 kilometers daily and keep essential travel documents including original passport, CNIC, flight ticket, visa copies and vaccination cards ready,” the state media said. 

Intending pilgrims were strictly warned against carrying prohibited items such as narcotics, naswar (smokeless tobacco), cigarettes and unverified medicines.

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.


Pakistan stocks hit record high on hopes of rate cut, improved US ties

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Pakistan stocks hit record high on hopes of rate cut, improved US ties

  • Benchmark index gains 2,662 points, or 1.44 percent, to close at an all-time high of 187,761 points
  • Engro, UBL, Hub Power, Fauji Fertilizer, Meezan Bank and Service Industries added 1,554 points to index

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) hit a record high as it surpassed the 187,500-point mark on Monday, with analysts citing improving ties with the United States and expectations of an imminent interest rate cut.

The benchmark KSE-100 index gained 2,662.86 points, or 1.44 percent, to close at an all-time high of 187,761.69 points, up from the previous close of 185,098.83 points, according to PSX data.

The stock gains came a day after President Donald Trump invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to join the so-called “Board of Peace” for Gaza, amid increasing Pakistan-US diplomatic and economic engagement since Trump’s rise to presidency.

“Falling government bond yields and improving Pakistan-US relations played a catalyst role in record close at PSX,” Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer of Arif Habib Commodities, told Arab News.

Meanwhile, Karachi-based market research firm Topline Securities said bulls extended their rally as hopes of a rate cut by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) fueled investor sentiment.

“Investor sentiment remained upbeat, largely fueled by rising expectations of an imminent interest rate cut,” it said in a post on X. “Market participants increasingly priced in a 50bps reduction in the upcoming monetary policy, which kept buying interest alive and underpinned broad-based gains.”

In December, the SBP cut its key policy rate by 50 basis points to 10.5 percent, resuming monetary easing after four meetings in a move that surprised many despite International Monetary Fund guidance to keep policy “appropriately tight” to anchor inflation expectations.

Engro Holdings Limited (ENGROH), United Bank Limited (UBL), Hub Power Company Limited (HUBC), Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC), Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) and Service Industries Limited (SRVI) collectively added 1,554 points to the benchmark index on Monday, according to Topline Securities.

“Total market volumes stood at 1,195 million shares, while the value of shares traded amounted to Rs63.7 billion,” the research firm said. “[Bank Makramah Limited] BML led the volume chart, emerging as the most actively traded stock with 246 million shares.”