Around 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims have been deprived of performing Hajj this year due to delays in agreements and payments to the Saudi government. Saudi Arabia had allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Pakistan this year, which included 89,605 each for the government and private tour organisers. However, only 14,000 applications were accepted under the private scheme. In response to a special request from the Pakistani government, Saudi Arabia granted an additional 10,000 quota. However, this is still insufficient to accommodate all the applicants, resulting in the exclusion of 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed an immediate inquiry into the reduction of the private Hajj quota, leaving thousands of Pakistani pilgrims unable to perform Hajj this year.