Pakistan begins registration of intending pilgrims for next year鈥檚 Hajj

SAIMA SHABBIR
A Saudi officer hands a Pakistani pilgrim her passport at the Makkah Route immigration counter at Islamabad International Airport in Islamabad on April 29, 2025. (SPA/File)
  • The registration process will continue till July 9 without any fee through 15 approved banks across the nation
  • Registration will be mandatory for pilgrims left out of private scheme this year as well as overseas Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has begun registration of intending pilgrims for next year鈥檚 Hajj pilgrimage for both the government and private schemes, its religious affairs ministry said on Friday.

Intending pilgrims can register themselves through 15 approved banks and only registered candidates will be considered eligible for Hajj 2026, according to the ministry.

After the registration, which will continue till July 9, pilgrims will be able to opt for government or private Hajj scheme. No fee will have to be paid for Hajj registration.

鈥淗ajj registration is being carried out on the instructions of the 萝莉视频n government,鈥� the religious affairs ministry said in a statement.

鈥淭he 萝莉视频n government will set the Hajj quota based on the registration.鈥�

The expenses and other terms and conditions of Hajj 2026 will be issued separately as per the Hajj policy, according to the statement. Registration will be mandatory for pilgrims who were left out of the private scheme this year as well as Pakistanis residing abroad.

Pakistan received a quota of 179,210 pilgrims from 萝莉视频 for Hajj 2025, which was evenly divided between the government and private Hajj operators.

While the government filled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims, a major portion of the private quota remained unutilized due to delays by companies in meeting payment and registration deadlines.

Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the religious affairs ministry to begin preparations for the 2026 Hajj immediately, calling for urgent reforms to the country鈥檚 private Hajj scheme.

鈥淭he operational plan should be developed in accordance with the Hajj policy issued by 萝莉视频,鈥� he said. 鈥淣o negligence in serving pilgrims next year will be tolerated.鈥�

Previously, Pakistan鈥檚 religious affairs minister, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, had confirmed that over 67,000 private-sector slots went unused, despite a last-minute effort to reclaim some of the allocation.

The shortfall prompted criticism and concerns over regulation and the capacity of private Hajj companies.

Topics: Ministry of Religious Affairs Pakistan Hajj mission Hajj 2026