98% of Pakistani Government Hajj Pilgrims Issued Visas, Says Religious Affairs Ministry
Imran Aslam:
Islamabad: The Ministry of Religious Affairs announced on Sunday that 98% of Pakistani government-sponsored Hajj pilgrims have successfully received their visas for this year’s pilgrimage, with the remaining cases being addressed on a priority basis.
A spokesperson for the ministry attributed most of the remaining delays to biometric verification issues, particularly among semi-literate applicants and those from remote regions. “We are actively working to resolve the pending 1.5% of visa cases, which are mostly linked to incorrect or incomplete biometric data,” the official stated.
To manage these issues, the ministry’s dedicated Hajj i-Cell is maintaining constant contact with affected pilgrims, providing support and ensuring that their applications are completed without further delay.
In addition to unresolved applications, around 0.5% of already issued visas that contained errors are currently being reprocessed. Authorities assured that the reissuance process is underway and will be finalized shortly.
The spokesperson further confirmed that pilgrims who missed their scheduled flights due to visa delays or personal challenges are being accommodated on subsequent flights. “Our nationwide Hajj camps remain open throughout the week to assist pilgrims in every possible way,” the spokesperson added.
Officials have reiterated their commitment to ensuring that all Pakistani pilgrims are able to depart for Hajj on time, with full facilitation and support.
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