ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Saturday said that Saudi Arabia had reversed its decision to set the minimum age for Haj pilgrims at 15.

Earlier in the day, the ministry, in a letter, had said that Saudi Arabia had set the minimum age for pilgrims at 15. It had said that the restrictions would be effective from 12am on May 3, 2026 (Monday).

“The government of Saudi Arabia has assured that all affected pilgrims will receive a full refund of the deposited amount,” the ministry had assured the public. Subsequently, in a statement reiterating the new directives, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) had said, “No pilgrim under the age of 15 years will be allowed to board Hajj flights, and such visas shall be treated as cancelled under this policy.”

However, hours later, the religious affairs ministry issued a new letter to officials, which stated the kingdom had “reversed its decision regarding the under-15-year age restriction for Haj”. It said that its previous instructions “may be deemed withdrawn”.

“The previous policy — allowing children above 12 years — is now back in effect. However, the visas that were rejected under the 15-year restriction will need to be re-processed,” it said.

Subsequently, the PAA also issued a statement reiterating the same. “Children aged 12 and above have been allowed to perform Haj again,” it said.

“Visas that were rejected under the 15-year age restriction will be reprocessed,” the PAA said.

The inaugural Haj flight for 2026 under the Route to Makkah initiative departed on April 19.

This year, the Road to Makkah project has been expanded to Lahore, in addition to Karachi and Islamabad, and is expected to benefit over 95,000 pilgrims, Radio Pakistan reported earlier.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced that its pre-Haj operation will formally commence on April 19, during which more than 55,000 pilgrims will be transported to the Holy Land through 191 flights from across Pakistan.

A PIA spokesperson said that under the government scheme, 49,000 pilgrims will travel, while over 6,000 pilgrims through private Haj group operators will also be facilitated via PIA flights.

He also noted that the first flight of the Haj operation, PK-747, will depart from Sialkot for Madinah on April 19 at 1:55am, carrying over 390 pilgrims.

Under the pre-Haj operation, PIA will transport over 15,400 pilgrims from Islamabad to Saudi Arabia through 46 flights.

From Karachi, over 15,000 pilgrims will be flown through 55 flights; from Lahore, 12,377 pilgrims through 34 flights; from Faisalabad, 3,680 pilgrims through 23 flights; from Multan, 5,383 pilgrims through 13 flights; from Sialkot, 2,075 pilgrims through five flights; and from Quetta, 4,487 pilgrims through 15 pre-Haj flights.

The first Haj flight from Quetta will depart on April 21 at 5:45 am with over 300 pilgrims.

The first flight from Karachi, PK-743, will depart on April 23 at 07:15 am with 391 pilgrims. Meanwhile, the first pre-Haj flight from Lahore will depart on April 24 at 10:20pm with over 300 pilgrims, a spokesperson added.

Airline teams at airports, as well as PIA offices in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, will provide guidance and assistance to pilgrims.

The PIA pre-Haj operation will conclude on May 21, the spokesperson added.

He further said that all necessary arrangements for facilitating pilgrims have been completed, and the CEO of PIA has instructed all teams that no negligence will be tolerated in the provision of services to the pilgrims.

AirSial operates first Haj flight

AirSial has also announced the commencement of its Haj operations, with the first Haj flight departing from Karachi carrying 160 pilgrims, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA).

The AirSial flight PF-7700 departed early in the morning at 2:05am.

Under the “Route to Makkah” facility, modern immigration services are being provided to pilgrims to facilitate smooth travel procedures.

Governor Sindh Nihal Hashmi and relevant federal and provincial ministers attended the inaugural ceremony of the first Haj flight and reviewed the arrangements made for pilgrims, according to PAA.

Officials also visited the Saudi immigration counters and appreciated the facilities being provided under the initiative.

Bushra Bibi, the wife of incarcerated ex-premier and PTI founder Imran Khan, was shifted back to Adiala jail on Friday after undergoing an eye surgery at a Rawalpindi hospital, according to jail authorities.

Bushra is serving a seven-year sentence in the £190 million corruption case. In December 2025, she was sen­tenced to 17 years’ imprisonment in the Toshakhana 2 case, which revolved around the purchase of an expensive jewelry set gifted to Imran by the Saudi crown prince during his May 2021 visit. The PTI has expressed concern over reports about her health, demanding that she be taken to a hospital for diagnosis and treatment.

According to a press release by the Adiala jail authorities, she had complained of impaired vision in her right eye, due to which the prison administrators immediately had her examined by ophthalmologists.

The superintendent of the jail said that retinal detachment was diagnosed in the right eye. In view of the diagnosis, doctors advised surgery, he added.

On Thursday evening, the patient was shifted to a private hospital in Rawalpindi, where the necessary tests and medical examination were completed before the surgery, the superintendent said, adding that Bushra Bibi had given consent for the operation.

The surgery was performed by Professor Dr. Nadeem Qureshi and a panel, the statement elaborated.

“The patient was discharged after the surgery and one night’s hospital stay,” the superintendent said, adding that she had been taken back to Adiala jail.

“Post-operative examinations and follow-up will be done as per the doctors’ advice,” he said.

PTI chairman terms meeting with family members ‘basic right’

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had said on social media this morning that Bushra Bibi had been taken to hospital.

“I was informed [through] a message that Bushra [Bibi] had been shifted to the hospital last night and that I would be briefed about the treatment,” Gohar said on X.

He added that he would request that her family members be allowed to meet her, as well as that Imran Khan’s family be allowed to meet with him and that he be moved to the hospital for treatment.

“The earlier, the better. It is their basic right according to law,” he said. “Their health is too serious and every Pakistani is deeply concerned.”

Maryam Riaz Wattoo, Bushra Bibi’s sister, reported not long after that the family had reached Islamabad.

“She will be going through a crucial surgery today. Please pray for her,” she said on X, without elaborating on the details.

The PTI’s concern came after a document dated March 28 began circulating on social media, which stated that Bushra Bibi had been examined by a Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) doctor who had said the patient had a “history of blurring of vision and a black spot in the right eye for the past 11 days”.

“She also complained of headache and flashes in the right eye,” the document said. Dawn has been unable to independently verify the authenticity and veracity of the document.

Separately, a statement issued by the PTI said Bushra Bibi had been reportedly diagnosed with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), along with myopia and astigmatism, terming the development “deeply concerning”.

In January, it had also surfaced that Imran was suffering from an eye ailment, and he underwent a third eye procedure at Pims last month.

In December of last year, a United Nations (UN) expert warned that Bushra Bibi was being “detained in circumstances that could pose a serious risk to her physical and mental integrity”.

Earlier that month, the same special rapporteur had warned that Imran was being held in conditions that could amount to inhuman or degrading treatment, calling on Pakistani authorities to comply with international norms and standards.