Ministry of Religious Affairs Pakistan has sent an 80-member advance team to Saudi Arabia to prepare for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage.
The team includes support staff and members of the Pakistan Hajj Medical Mission. It will set up central control offices and other service facilities in Makkah and Madinah.
A reception team will also begin its work before the Hajj flight operations start on April 18.
Officials said the advance team will complete arrangements for Pakistani pilgrims, including accommodation, food, and transport. The medical mission will also set up hospitals and dispensaries to provide healthcare services during the pilgrimage.
Notably, Saudi Arabia has stopped expatriates without official permits from entering Makkah from April 13 as part of strict arrangements for the upcoming Hajj season.
According to the Ministry of Interior, only those with a valid Hajj permit, a Makkah-issued residency permit (iqama), or an approved work permit for the holy sites will be allowed to enter the city. Anyone without these documents will be turned back at security checkpoints.
This step is part of the “No Hajj without a permit” policy to ensure better safety and management of millions of pilgrims during Hajj. Authorities have also announced that April 18, which is the 1st of Dhul Qada, is the last date for foreign Umrah pilgrims to leave the country.
Umrah permits issued through the Nusuk platform will be suspended from April 18 until May 31. The new rules also ban people on non-Hajj visas from entering or staying in Makkah during this time. Pilgrims can get Hajj permits online through the Absher platform and the Muqeem portal.
The ministry has asked everyone to follow these rules strictly and warned that legal action will be taken against those who violate them to ensure the safety of all pilgrims.
