ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the reduction in the private Hajj quota for this year, which left thousands of Pakistanis unable to perform Hajj under the private scheme.

The PM directed an immediate inquiry into the matter and established a three-member committee tasked with identifying the responsible parties within three days, Express News reported. The inquiry follows the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony's failure to secure the private Hajj quota from Saudi Arabia for 2025 despite the timely fulfillment of necessary procedures.

PM Shehbaz expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in securing the quota, instructing the committee to investigate why the Ministry of Religious Affairs failed to implement the Saudi Ministry of Hajj's policy in a timely manner and why the request for the private quota was not made on time. The three-member committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Cabinet Division, includes the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Federal Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan. The committee has been tasked with determining why the Ministry of Religious Affairs failed to meet the deadlines and secure the private Hajj quota, leaving thousands of Pakistanis without an opportunity to perform the pilgrimage.

The committee is required to complete the inquiry within three days and identify those responsible for the oversight.  The Ministry of Religious Affairs has been instructed to fully cooperate with the committee in its investigation. The Cabinet Division has issued a notification regarding the formation of the committee and the commencement of the inquiry.