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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will begin on Monday the process of receiving applications for Hajj 2026 under the government scheme, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday.

Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims. Of this, 129,210 seats have been allocated for the government scheme and the rest for private tour operators, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf announced on July 30.

Under the government Hajj scheme, pilgrims can avail either a long Hajj package of 38–42 days or a short package that consists of a duration of 20–25 days, with the estimated cost of the government’s Hajj package ranging from Rs1,150,000 to Rs1,250,000 [$4,049.93 to $4,236].

“Hajj applications can be submitted through designated banks and online portal,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported, citing Religious Affairs Ministry spokesman Muhammad Umar Butt.

“Fresh applicants may apply from 11th to 16th of this month if seats remain available.”

Individuals, registered on a first come, first served basis, can deposit the first installment of their Hajj dues by Saturday, August 9, according to the report. The second installment will be collected from November this year.

“Receipt of Hajj dues will immediately be stopped once all the seats are filled,” Butt said.

����ֱ�� had approved a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Pakistan this year as well, but a large portion of the private Hajj quota for 2025 remained unutilized due to delays by tour operators in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government fulfilled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.

Private operators attributed the shortfall to technical issues, including payment processing problems and communication breakdowns.

ISLAMABAD: ����ֱ��’s aid agency King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues its humanitarian activities in crisis-hit countries, particularly targeting vulnerable families and communities.

In Syria, it distributed 393 food parcels to displaced families from As-Suwayda Governorate to Daraa Governorate, benefiting a total of 393 families.

In Sudan’s Sennar State, it distributed 1,440 food parcels to displaced families in East Sennar, with 9,974 individuals benefiting from it as part of the 2025 Food Security Support Project in Sudan.

In Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, 135 food packages were given to Afghan returnees from Pakistan. The returnees are now at Omari Camp of the Torkham border crossing.

In Wadi Khaled, Lebanon, more than 3,700 displaced Syrians and vulnerable families in the host community benefited from the 752 food packages given under the KSrelief initiative

Meanwhile in Yemen, 1,350 cartons of dates were distributed in Salh District of Taiz Governorate as part of the 2025–2026 date distribution project.

KSrelief also implemented a technical training program on air conditioning system maintenance in Aden with 20 beneficiaries taking part in specialized workshops.

The program aims to empower underprivileged communities by equipping them with technical skills that improve their economic prospects and facilitate their integration into the labor market.

Aside from trainings, KSrelief also provided psychological support to 333 individuals in Aden through counseling sessions and specialized training courses. The activities were aimed at promoting mental health and alleviating the psychological impact of crises in affected communities.