ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has pledged decisive action to resolve the issue affecting 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims at risk of missing Hajj 2025 due to administrative lapses. He assured that the government would reach out to Saudi authorities and do everything within its power to address the crisis.
The assurance came during a meeting with a delegation comprising Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf, Senate Religious Affairs Committee Chairman Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman, committee member Bushra Butt, and representatives from the Hajj Organisers Association of Pakistan (HOAP). The delegation appealed to the Prime Minister for urgent intervention to secure Saudi approval for pilgrims registered under the private Hajj scheme.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz voiced his dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation, expressing frustration with both private Hajj operators and officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. He described the debacle as a source of national embarrassment and stressed the need for swift corrective measures.
Sources confirm that the Prime Minister assured the delegation of his full cooperation and directed relevant authorities to pursue the matter with urgency and diligence.
