Pakistan reduces Hajj assistants count as pilgrim numbers drop

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has decided to reduce the number of Hajj assistants for the 2025 pilgrimage by 50%, following a significant drop in the number of Pakistani pilgrims. Originally, 840 assistants were chosen through a National Testing Service (NTS) exam to help 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims during Hajj. But since 67,000 people from Pakistan won’t be able to go this year, the number of assistants has been reduced to 440. Officials said that only the first 440 candidates who passed the NTS test will now be selected to go. This change was made to match the number of support staff with the actual number of people going for Hajj.