Hajj application process begins Aug 4

Express Tribune

5 days ago

The government will start receiving applications for the official Hajj scheme from August 4, following the federal cabinet's approval of the Hajj Policy 2026.
Selections will be made on a first-come, first-served basis, in line with the Saudi timeline.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said Pakistan has been allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims — 119,210 under the government scheme and 60,000 for private operators, subject to final confirmation by Saudi authorities.
The government scheme will include both the traditional 38-42 day package and a shorter 20-25 day option. Estimated costs are expected to range between Rs1.15 million and Rs1.25 million, depending on final agreements with service providers.
Pilgrims will be required to deposit Hajj dues in two installments, with the first installment — Rs500,000 for the long package and Rs550,000 for the short one through designated banks, he added.
Minister Yousaf said applicants must hold valid Pakistani passports until at least November 26, 2026, and children under 12 years of age will not be eligible for Hajj this year. He said all pilgrims must be vaccinated with Saudi-approved vaccines.
He said the 'Road to Makkah' initiative will continue at Islamabad and Karachi airports. He said overseas Pakistanis will be allowed to remit Hajj payments to nominated bank accounts under the scheme. The policy mandates compulsory animal sacrifice payments through the official Saudi system, he added.
Minister Yousaf said private Hajj operators, including Dependent Hajj Companies (DHCs), will be subject to strict financial safeguards and transparent digital oversight.
He said these operators must enter service provider agreements with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony and operate under real-time data monitoring to ensure transparency, prevent double bookings, and ensure timely services.
He said a third-party audit system will evaluate the performance of both government and private Hajj schemes. The Punjab Information Technology Board will continue operational digital support, with the Ministry of IT overseeing supervision through NITB, he added.
Minister Yousaf said further measures include the deployment of emergency response teams, the continuation of the "Hajj Guardian Scheme" to compensate pilgrims for losses, mandatory training on logistics, rituals, and emergency protocols, and a fully digitized complaint redressal mechanism.
He said the 'Pak Hajj App' and helpline will assist pilgrims with updates and issue resolution throughout the Hajj process. The Hajj Policy 2026 will help ensure a transparent, efficient, and spiritually fulfilling experience for all Pakistani pilgrims through digitization, regulation, and improved service delivery mechanisms, he maintained.
The Hajj Policy 2026 includes a 70% government quota and a 30% private sector quota. It was highlighted that, following issues with the private sector in the previous year, private companies will ensure the participation of pilgrims who missed the Hajj in 2025.