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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry sent a warning letter this week to 16 private Hajj companies, saying they had been taking payments from prospective pilgrims directly instead of using designated banks while threatening to blacklist them and cancel their quota if they fail to comply.

Pakistan traditionally divides the national Hajj quota equally between government and private schemes. Last year, nearly 63,000 pilgrims were unable to perform Hajj under the private scheme due to delayed payments and mismanagement, prompting the authorities to cut the private sector quota to 33 percent this year.

The ministry noted in its letter that no vouchers had been submitted by these companies, with their deposits showing a zero balance.

“This constitutes a serious violation of the Service Providers’ Agreement (SPA), Hajj Policy and Cabinet directives,” said the letter written on Sept. 15, a copy of which is in possession of Arab News.

The ministry asked these companies to ensure immediate compliance with the SPA and submit all relevant vouchers to banks.

“Please note that failure to comply with these directions shall invite strict action, including permanent blacklisting and revocation of your quota,” it added.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf told Arab News earlier this month Pakistan had filled its entire quota of 179,210 Hajj pilgrims under both the government and private schemes, adding that negotiations were underway with Saudi companies to finalize transport and accommodation arrangements.

He said the ministry had taken serious action against private Hajj operators since last year, and would review their performance this time and decide their future quotas accordingly.

KARACHI: Pakistan on Friday extended its airspace ban on Indian aircraft until Oct. 24, according to an official notification, as tensions remain high between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since they fought an intense four-day war in May that killed at least 70 people in both countries.

The restriction was first imposed on Apr. 24 as part of a series of tit-for-tat measures announced by both India and Pakistan, days after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad.

Pakistani authorities denied any involvement, calling for a transparent international probe. However, India targeted several sites in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, triggering intense missile, drone and artillery exchanges before a US-brokered ceasefire was announced on May 10.

“Pakistan’s airspace will remain unavailable for aircraft registered in India," the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced. "The ban applies to all planes owned, operated, or leased by Indian airlines or operators, including military flights.”

“The restriction will take effect on Sept. 19, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. (PKT) and is scheduled to end on Oct. 24, 2025, at 4:59 a.m. (PKT)," it added.

Describing the end time as "tentative," the notification said the ban "is effective from the ground up to unlimited altitude.”

This is the fifth time Pakistan has extended the ban, which has forced Indian airlines to reroute flights, increasing fuel consumption, travel times and operating costs.

Air India, which operates numerous flights to Europe and North America, estimated in May the airspace ban could lead to about $600 million in additional expenses over the course of a year and requested compensation from the Indian government.