Hajj Policy 2026: Ministers Push to Cut Private Quota
Islamabad: Several Ministers have asked the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to cut the quota of private hajj operators due to their dismal performance.
During the discussion in a recent meeting of the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the MoRA&IH briefed that negligence on the part of the private Hajj operators in meeting the timelines stipulated by the Saudi Government had deprived a large number of intending persons from performing Hajj in 2025.
The Cabinet considered the summary titled “Hajj Policy 2026” submitted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony and approved the proposal with modification that the quota for private Hajj operators would be expanded to 60,000 for Hajj 2026.Delhi under fire for blocking Pakistan shrine visits
The Cabinet further directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony to digitalise the Hajj management process from end-to-end in coordination with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.
It was informed that the Hajj Policy Committee had formulated the Hajj Policy and Plan 2026, keeping in view the lessons learnt from this unpleasant experience. The Prime Minister commended the work done by the Committee and directed the MoRA&IH to digitalise the Hajj management process from end-to-end in coordination with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.
Several Cabinet members opined that, in view of the dismal performance of the private Hajj operators in 2025, as a precautionary measure, the Hajj quota should be divided between the Government and Private Hajj Schemes 70:30 rather than the proposed ratio of 60:40.
However, it was pointed out that if the ratio was reduced to 70:30, many of the around 60,000 intending Hujjaj linked with private Hajj operators in 2025 who could not perform Hajj, and who continued to be enlisted with these operators, would suffer as a result. In view of this, consensus developed that in order to accommodate these deprived persons, a quota of 60,000 should be allocated to the private Hajj operators for Hajj 2026.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony (MoRA&IH) apprised the Cabinet that it had the mandate to frame the Hajj Policy and make arrangements for Hajj under the Rules of Business, 1973, and that the Hajj and Umrah (Regulation) Act, 2024 authorised the Ministry to frame Hajj Policy and Plan through Hajj Policy Committee and also mandated it to organise, execute and manage Hajj affairs as an independent operator under the Government Hajj Scheme.
It was informed that the Hajj Policy Committee (HPC) had discussed the draft Hajj Policy and Plan 2026 in its meeting held on 28.07.2025 and had endorsed it for placing before the Cabinet for approval.
The Salient Features of Hajj Policy 2026
The salient features of the Hajj Policy and Plan were placed before the Cabinet as follows:
(i) The Hajj quota allocated to Pakistan for Hajj 2026 is 179,210 (yet to be formally communicated by KSA), which would be distributed between the Government and Private Hajj Schemes at a ratio of 60:40, respectively.
(ii) Hujjaj shall be selected on a “first-come first first-served” basis.
(iii) For the Government Hajj Scheme, there shall be a traditional long package of 38 to 42 days and a short package of 20 to 25 days.
(iv) Health requirements of Hujjaj would be as per KSA guidelines.
(v) Overseas Pakistanis to apply against the general seats.
(vi) The tentative Hajj package of the Government Hajj Scheme for Hajj 2026 would be between Rs. 1,150,000/- to 1,250,000/-.
(vii) Sacrifice (Qurbani) would be compulsory under the Adahi Programme of KSA; no private Qurbani would be allowed.
(viii) As per the decision of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), female Hujjaj without mehram would be allowed for Hajj.
(ix) Hajj dues shall be collected in two instalments.
(x) 1,000 seats shall be reserved for hardship cases.
(xi) Substitution cases shall be considered by a committee constituted by the Minister, MoRA&IH.
(xii) Quota of 1,500 Hujjaj has been reserved for the P category to be operated by private Hajj schemes.
(xiii) Robust mechanism for digitalisation, regulation, and audit, including an instalment system.
(xiv) Dependent Hajj Companies (DHCs) shall be bound to comply with the portal-related instructions of MoRA&IH to ensure transparency and accountability.
(xv) Performance evaluation of Government and Private Hajj Schemes by a third party.
(xvi) Comprehensive training shall be imparted to Hujjaj, including logistics, Hajj procedures and practices, social conduct, and dealing with emergency situations.
(xvii) The Pak Hajj App would be used for education, guidance, complaints, and Hajj monitoring.
(xviii) Constitution of Emergency Response Centre.
(xix) The Hajj Nazim scheme shall be continued.
Accordingly, the draft Hajj Policy and Plan 2026 was placed before the Cabinet for approval in terms of section 36(1) of the Hajj and Umrah (Regulation) Act, 2024.