Pilgrims to travel by bus as train agreement not completed; Pakistan offers cheapest hajj in region

MAKKAH MUKARRAMAH, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th May, 2026) Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf on Monday said that due to the absence of a bilateral agreement with the Saudi government, Pakistani pilgrims would travel by bus instead of train between Makkah and Madinah this year.

Talking to media after reviewing Hajj arrangements in Makkah, the minister highlighted that owing to the tireless efforts of the government, Hajj expenses have not been increased for the past four years. Consequently, Pakistan continues to offer the most economical Hajj package in the entire region. In comparison, neighboring India’s Hajj package is costlier by PKR 600,000, despite lacking the same standard of facilities.

Sardar Yousaf stated that the registration process for the current year’s Hajj was highly successful, adding that the formulation of the next Hajj policy and corresponding arrangements would commence immediately after the formal announcement by the Saudi government. He noted that over 450,000 applications had been received following the initial advertisement for registration last year.

Expressing satisfaction over the residential, catering, and logistical arrangements in Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites (Mashair), the minister praised the Pakistan Hajj Mission and the housing department for their exceptional services.

He disclosed that for the first time under the government scheme, an independent room facility was introduced to accommodate the preferences of pilgrims.

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Approximately 8,000 pilgrims availed of this specialized option by making an additional payment of PKR 200,000 per bed, expressing complete satisfaction with the arrangements.

Providing a breakdown of the packages, the minister stated that the government scheme offers two distinct options short and long duration priced between PKR 11,50000 million and PKR 12,00000, featuring significantly better facilities compared to other countries. For those who can afford higher expenditures, private sector packages ranging from PKR 2.0 million to PKR 3.0 million are available, though the high standard of the government package remains firmly intact.

He further noted that Indian pilgrims have to pay equivalent to PKR 1.80 million in their respective Currency and face difficulties due to substandard arrangements, a concern they frequently shared with Pakistani Hajj welfare staff (Khuddam-ul-Hajj).

The minister emphasized that the government treats pilgrims from both official and private schemes as VIPs without any distinction."We view the service of pilgrims not merely as an official duty, but as a sacred religious obligation because they are the guests of Allah Almighty," the minister said. He added that while minor complaints occasionally surface during the massive operation, the welfare staff, assistants (Moavineen), and Khuddam deployed in Makkah are addressing and resolving them on the spot to ensure all pilgrims return home satisfied.