ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved the country’s first four-year Hajj Policy and Plan for 2027-2030 on Tuesday, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said, removing the need for pilgrims to register every year for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
Pakistan issues its Hajj policy every year which lays out the framework of how citizens can perform Hajj either via the official government scheme or through licensed private tour operators.
Unlike previous policies that covered only one year, the new Hajj policy is Pakistan’s first four-year policy and plan, the PMO said.
“The policy is intended to enable long-term planning, improve operational efficiency, and provide better facilities for pilgrims,” the statement said. “Standard operating procedures and other regulations will be developed for its implementation.”
The statement said that the policy can be amended as needed to ensure it aligns with Saudi Arabia’s laws and regulations.
Under the new Hajj policy, aspiring pilgrims won’t need to register every year for the pilgrimage. Instead, they will be able to register once for Hajj in any year up to 2030, according to their preference.
“A priority waiting list will be maintained based on these registrations,” the PMO said.
A Shariah-compliant savings scheme will also be introduced by the government to help prospective pilgrims save for Hajj and finance their pilgrimage in the future, the statement said.
Participants of the meeting were also told that the entire Hajj system is being digitized in Pakistan. This includes digital payment mechanisms, a digital complaints management system and digital monitoring, the PMO said.
Separate quota for both government and private Hajj schemes have been included in the policy while it also introduces long-duration and short-duration Hajj packages.
“Mandatory pilgrim training, Takaful (Islamic insurance) arrangements and emergency response measures are included as key components,” the statement said.
The federal cabinet directed that Hajj assistants be appointed through a transparent, merit-based process.
Hajj 2026 concluded in Saudi Arabia in May this year, with millions of Muslims participating in the event. Pakistan was allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims under both government and private Hajj schemes.
Pakistan has already begun preparations for Hajj 2027, with Islamabad launching mandatory registration for aspiring pilgrims last month. State broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported that around 250,000 citizens registered for the upcoming Hajj in 15 days.
