ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, leading a delegation, met Saad Al-Shathri, a senior Islamic scholar and Adviser to the Royal Court of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
The minister, who is currently in the holy city to perform Umrah, conveyed the sentiments of the people and government of Pakistan to the leadership and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in the context of the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
Saad Al-Shathri, who belongs to a renowned religious family in Saudi Arabia, is also a member of the Kingdom’s Council of Senior Scholars.
During the meeting, Sardar Yousuf said the people and government of Pakistan were ready to make every sacrifice for the safeguarding of Saudi Arabia, noting that the Kingdom had always stood by Pakistan during difficult times.
Saad Al-Shathri reciprocated the sentiments of the Pakistani delegation and prayed for the well-being and prosperity of the people of Pakistan as well as for the country’s stability.
Professor Sajjad Qamar and Dr Ehsan Sajid were also present. Separately, as the Saudi authorities have fixed March 20 as the final deadline for issuance of visas for the Hajj-2026, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has directed private Hajj operators to complete visa processing by March 15.
“To avoid any unforeseen eventuality due to the Eid holiday or any other reason, it is imperative that the visa process may be completed by March 15,” a March 9 correspondence to the Chairman of Hajj Organisers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) and Hajj companies said.
Earlier, the HOAP, on March 3, was apprised that the Saudi authorities have fixed March 20 as deadline for visa issuances and it is strictly unextendable and no relaxation shall be granted beyond the stipulated date,” the Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a correspondence to Chairman of Hajj Organisers Association of Pakistan (HOAP).
However, in view of the foregoing , all companies and dependent Hajj companies have been advised to complete visas processing of their respective Hujjaj well before time.
The HOAP had also been directed to submit a daily report to the ministry regarding issuance of Hajj visas. “In view of fresh letter from the Ministry, we are short by five days and want some relaxation,” one of HOAP’s representatives said.
Meanwhile, an official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs said that they are completing the whole visas process under the government’s regular scheme in line with directions and deadline given by the Saudi government in saying that biometric of all over 119,000 intending pilgrims had been completed. “Our preparations for next year will also start soon after completion of Hajj-2026 operation,” he said.
In all 60,000 Pakistanis would perform Hajj under the private Hajj schemes this year.
