THIS year the fate of majority of intended pilgrims from Pakistan for the sacred Haj journey is in danger. It is believed about 67,000 pilgrims intending to perform Haj through private tour operators have not received confirmation of their Haj visas.

According to the government of Saudi Arabia, these pilgrims did not meet the application deadline. The chairman of the Haj Organisers Association of Pakistan (HOAP), at a recent press conference, held the Pakistani government responsible for the lapse, because, in his words, the government had officially allowed them to receive applications till Jan 14. After addressing deficiencies, these applications were finalised by March 18. The deadline set by the Saudi government lapsed on Feb 21, after which the system stopped receiving applications.

The government should utilise the famed brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia so that none of the intending pilgrims from Pakistan is deprived of a chance to undertake the sacred journey.

Waseem Abbas
Swabi

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2025