ISLAMABAD: More than 48,000 Pakistani pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the Pakistani religious affairs ministry said on Friday.
Saudi Arabia hosts millions of Muslims annually for Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars that must be performed at least once by every able-bodied Muslim with the financial means to undertake the journey.
Pakistan is among the largest contributors of Hajj pilgrims, with tens of thousands traveling to Saudi Arabia each year under both government and private schemes.
The religious affairs ministry said so far 48,388 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom, of which 38,584 were currently in Makkah.
“Pakistani pilgrims are busy preparing for Friday prayers at the world’s largest mosque,” the ministry said, detailing arrangements to take Pakistanis to the Grand Mosque in Makkah for Friday prayers.
Pakistan was allocated a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims for 2026, with 119,000 due to travel under the government’s scheme and the rest to be accommodated by private tour operators.
Islamabad has said the country’s pre-Hajj flight operations is expected to continue uninterrupted till May 21. The annual pilgrimage is expected to be performed in the last week of this month.
Many Pakistani pilgrims have been traveling to the Kingdom from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad under the Route to Makkah Initiative this year.
The initiative enables them to undergo immigration and customs clearance in Pakistan, allowing them to bypass lengthy procedures upon arrival in Saudi Arabia and travel directly to their accommodation in Makkah or Madinah.
