International News: During the Hajj 2025 pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, 18 Pakistani pilgrims lost their lives, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), as reported by local media outlets. According to the ministry, the deceased included 10 men and 8 women, most of whom were over 60 years of age. The deaths were primarily due to health-related issues and heart attacks.
In 2024, over 30 Pakistani pilgrims had died during Hajj. Notably, this year’s death toll is significantly lower, according to Pakistani media reports. All the deceased were buried in Jannatul Baqi, also known as Baqi al-Gharqad. It is the oldest and first Islamic cemetery in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
This year, over 1.6 million pilgrims gathered from around the world, including approximately 1.5 million international pilgrims from 171 countries. According to official records from Saudi Arabia, a total of 166,654 domestic pilgrims participated in Hajj 2025. This year witnessed one of the most balanced gender ratios in Hajj history, with 877,841 men and 795,389 women taking part in the pilgrimage.
In response to last year’s tragic death toll of 1,301 pilgrims—primarily due to extreme temperatures reaching 51.8°C (125°F)—Saudi authorities implemented a series of comprehensive cooling strategies. These included expanded shaded areas, cooling stations, and the deployment of medical teams to ensure the pilgrims' safety.
According to Pakistani media, these precautions significantly contributed to improved safety conditions. In addition, strict enforcement against unauthorised pilgrims helped reduce crowding and enhanced overall security at key holy sites.
The end of the Hajj coincides with the start of Eid al-Adha, an important Islamic holiday marked by the slaughter of animals such as goats, sheep, cows, bulls, or camels.
Data from the GASTAT shows that most pilgrims arrived by air (1,435,017), while 66,465 travelled by land and 5,094 by sea. As the Hajj 2025 repatriation process begins, authorities are dedicated to enabling a safe and efficient return for all pilgrims.
