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May 01, 2026
First Pakistani Pilgrims Reach Makkah as Hajj Operation Enters Next Phase
Peshawar: The first group of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims arrived in Makkah on Sunday after completing their stay in Madinah, the ministry of religious affairs said on Monday, marking the next phase of Pakistan’s annual pilgrimage operation.
A total of 651 pilgrims were transported to the holy city as part of the transition from Madinah ahead of the main Hajj rituals.
Pakistan is expected to send 179,210 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj in 2026 under its official quota, one of the largest in the world, with pilgrims traveling under both government and private schemes.
The Hajj operation involves complex coordination of transport, accommodation and logistics as pilgrims move between key religious sites, with the shift to Makkah preceding the core rites of Hajj in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.
“The first convoy of Pakistani intending Hajj pilgrims, comprising 651 individuals, arrived in Makkah Al-Mukarramah on Sunday after being transferred from Madinah, marking the formal transition of Pakistan’s Hajj operation into its next phase,” an official statement said.
The 2026 operation includes a number of procedural improvements aimed at easing movement and reducing congestion during peak days.
One of the key changes this year is the advance allocation of Mina accommodation, with pilgrims being informed of their tent numbers, corridors and bed assignments before arrival to minimize confusion during one of the most crowded stages of the pilgrimage, the statement said.
Authorities have also upgraded digital systems, including the Nusuk card process and pre-arrival data management, to speed up registration and accommodation procedures upon arrival in Makkah.
The phased movement of pilgrims to Makkah is expected to continue in the coming days as Pakistan’s Hajj operation gathers pace ahead of the annual pilgrimage. - AN
Courtesy AN
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