Govt approves effective Hajj Policy 2026: Sardar Yousaf

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has said the government has formulated and approved an effective Hajj Policy 2026 in accordance with guidelines issued by Saudi Arabia.

In a Podcast interview with Radio Pakistan's News and Current Affairs Channel, he confirmed that Pakistan's Hajj quota for 2026 stands at one hundred seventy-nine thousand two hundred ten pilgrims.

He said approximately one hundred twenty thousand pilgrims will perform Hajj under the government scheme while sixty thousand through private operators.

He added that training for the 2026 Hajj is currently underway across the country, with mandatory sessions being conducted in various districts.

Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said around thirty-eight thousand intending pilgrims will travel from Islamabad under the "Road to Makkah" project.

At present, this facility is available only in Islamabad and Karachi, but efforts are underway to extend it to Lahore.

Highlighting the efforts of the Ministry for Religious Affairs in promoting interfaith harmony, he said it provides a platform for all religious minorities in Pakistan to foster an environment of unity and cohesion.

He emphasized that the Constitution of Pakistan ensures equal rights for all minority communities.

The Minister also noted that the government provides scholarships to children of minority communities, allocates funds for the rehabilitation of their worship places, and offers financial assistance to deserving individuals from these communities.

He said minority communities also benefit from separate job quotas and representation in parliament.

Speaking in the regional context, the Minister observed that religious communities in India are facing hardships.

He particularly mentioned incidents of vandalism and ransacking during Christmas celebrations in India during December last year.

Sardar Yousaf said the Ministry of Religious Affairs has introduced a new centralized system to organize pilgrimages by Zaireen to holy sites in Iran and Iraq.