ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday advised Muslims planning to perform Hajj in 2027 to prepare early and obtain travel documents, saying bookings for next year’s pilgrimage could be completed within two months as Saudi Arabia begins preparations for the upcoming Hajj season.
Pakistan kicked off its post-Hajj flight operations on Saturday to bring back thousands of pilgrims who performed the annual Islamic pilgrimage this year in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad, Yousaf said the Saudi minister for Hajj and Umrah recently announced the Hajj policy and timelines for next year’s pilgrimage in 1448 AH. He said preparations for the upcoming Hajj season have begun in Saudi Arabia, so that the 2027 pilgrimage can be undertaken without any hassle.
“Hence, it is possible that in the next two months, booking for Hajj 2027 will be completed,” Yousaf told reporters.
“Hence, those who wish to perform Hajj 2027 should get their passports made now,” the minister added.
He thanked Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for facilitating Hajj pilgrims and for cooperating with the Pakistan Hajj Mission during the pilgrimage.
Yousaf noted that Pakistani authorities received less than one percent of complaints from pilgrims this year, adding that Islamabad would review arrangements made during this Hajj to improve the experience for pilgrims next year.
Pakistani authorities completed arrangements for nearly 179,000 Hajj pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season, including about 119,000 under the government scheme and around 60,000 through private operators.
Hajj management remains one of the largest annual overseas logistical operations undertaken by the Pakistani government.
Pakistan has in recent years introduced a range of measures aimed at improving accommodation, transportation, food services, complaint resolution mechanisms and guidance services for pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage.
