Govt Invites Applications for Procuring Vaccines for Hajj Pilgrims

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has invited pharmaceutical companies to submit applications for the supply of 170,000 vaccine doses to immunize Pakistani pilgrims for Hajj 2025, ARY News reported on Thursday. The vaccines will cover diseases such as polio, meningitis, and other required immunizations. Interested companies must apply by February 25.

Vaccination drives will be conducted at Hajj 2025 camps across Pakistan, ensuring pilgrims are immunized before departing for Saudi Arabia. The total number of doses may be adjusted based on the final pilgrim count.

This year, 179,210 Pakistanis are set to perform Hajj under both government and private schemes. Of these, 89,605 pilgrims will travel under the government scheme, with an equal number participating through private arrangements.

On January 13, Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, officially signed the Hajj 2025 agreement. Dr. Al-Rabiah assured Pakistan of full cooperation to improve facilities for its pilgrims.

Meanwhile, Pakistani pilgrims are expected to collectively spend approximately Rs9.94 billion on sacrificial animals during Hajj 2025. According to ministry sources, each pilgrim has contributed Rs55,500 toward the sacrifice ritual. So far, over 35,000 government scheme pilgrims have deposited their sacrificial amounts, totaling Rs1.94 billion, reflecting the organized arrangements for this important religious obligation.