ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry said on Thursday preparations for the annual Hajj pilgrimage for 2026 were in their final stages, with pilgrims already trained across 107 cities ahead of the journey to Saudi Arabia later this year.

Pakistan sends one of the world’s largest Hajj contingents each year, requiring months of logistical coordination between Islamabad and Saudi authorities to manage housing in Makkah and Madinah, transport to holy sites and training in religious rites.

Authorities say training is considered essential because many Pakistani pilgrims travel abroad for the first time and must learn both rituals and administrative procedures before departure.

“A total of 183 training workshops have been conducted in 107 cities to educate pilgrims about Hajj rituals and administrative matters,” Federal Secretary Religious Affairs Dr. Sajid Mahmood Chauhan said in statement after Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf chaired a high-level meeting to review Hajj arrangements, including accommodation, transport, vaccinations and travel documentation for pilgrims.

Chauhan added the second phase of one-day training sessions would begin immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr.

Officials said arrangements including accommodation, transport in Mina and Arafat, and food services had entered the final phase of preparation, while vaccination, air tickets and visa issuance would begin soon.

“Makkah and Madinah accommodation has been secured better than last year,” Director General Hajj Abdul Wahab Soomro told the meeting, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the religious affairs minister instructed authorities to ensure “ideal arrangements” both in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and emphasized that pilgrims and support staff should represent the country positively during the pilgrimage.

Pakistan has been allocated a total Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims for 2026, according to the country’s approved Hajj policy.

Of these, 119,210 pilgrims will travel under the government scheme while 60,000 will go through private tour operators, with applications processed on a first-come, first-served basis and supported by digitized monitoring and training arrangements.