The has written to the Director General of Passports, directing all passport offices across the country to remain open today and tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.

Sources say passports of welfare staff assigned for Hajj duties have not yet been issued, raising fears of delays in their deployment to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities have made it mandatory to upload welfare staff passports on the Masar app by 21 December. If this deadline is missed, the staff will not be allowed to perform Hajj services.

The ministry has also recommended immediate issuance of passports for 268 members of the Hajj medical mission. These members belong to both the civil sector and armed forces, and their timely arrival is considered critical.

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To speed up the process, the ministry has requested suspension of weekly holidays at passport offices so all pilgrims and staff can receive passports without delay.

It is worth noting that in 2025, more than 63,000 Pakistanis were unable to perform Hajj. Learning from that setback, authorities are taking strict measures this year to avoid any repeat.

The emergency highlights how tight deadlines can disrupt major religious arrangements. Faster passport processing is crucial to prevent disappointment for pilgrims. Strong coordination now may save thousands from missing Hajj again.