ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Saturday it would allow children above 12 years to perform Hajj after Saudi authorities reversed a directive restricting pilgrims under 15, prompting Islamabad to withdraw its earlier notification enforcing the curbs.
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry had urged strict compliance with the minimum age limit set by the Kingdom, which, it said, had restrained the entry of pilgrims aged under 15 years by May 27, 2026, corresponding to 9th Dhu Al-Hijjah or the “Day of Arafat.”
“The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has reversed its decision regarding the under-15-year age restriction for Hajj,” the Office of Pilgrim Affairs Pakistan (OPAP) said in a notification.
“The previous policy — allowing children above 12 years — is now back in effect,” it added. “However, the visas that were rejected under the 15-year restriction will need to be re-processed.”
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) also confirmed the change, saying the under-15 restriction had been withdrawn and that pilgrims aged 12 and above were now eligible to travel for Hajj under the restored policy.
Pakistan is expected to send over 179,000 pilgrims for Hajj this year, with pre-Hajj flight operations already underway and thousands having reached Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.
The Hajj this year is expected to fall within the last week of the ongoing month of May.
