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By Soliu Oyesiji
After ten years of failed attempts, a 66-year-old Pakistani man, Safdar Khan, has finally secured a seat for the 2026 Hajj under a special hardship quota.
Khan had repeatedly missed out due to unsuccessful ballots, the COVID-19 pandemic, financial difficulties and the death of his wife. This year, he also missed the application deadline for Pakistan’s government Hajj scheme.
However, officials considered his case under a hardship allocation, making him the final pilgrim selected for the 2026 exercise.
His family later raised the required Rs1.2 million Hajj fare to ensure he could embark on the pilgrimage after a decade-long wait.
