Cabinet okays Haj 2025 policy: Pakistan allotted quota of 179,210 pilgrims for next year

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet Thursday approved the 2025 Hajj policy through circulation, announcing the last year’s quota of 179,210 Hujjaj for Pakistan.

The quota would be bifurcated equally (89,605 each) between the government and private Hajj schemes.

Out of the government Hajj scheme, at least 5,000 seats would be reserved for sponsorship scheme, under which applicants would require to deposit their Hajj dues in foreign exchange remitted from abroad through banking channels.

The intending pilgrims of the government sponsorship quota would be exempted from balloting and extended on the first-come-first-served basis.

Quota of 25,000 of private Hajj scheme would be reserved for sponsorship scheme. For the government Hajj scheme, there would be the traditional long package of 38 to 42 days and a short package of 20 to 25 days.

Pakistan had surrendered quota of 19,500 pilgrims last year due to poor response. Under the regular government Hajj scheme, shared accommodation in accordance with Saudi laws and housing permits would be provided along with boarding and lodging services.

Selection of Hujjaj would be made through computerised balloting.

A hardship quota of 1000 seats would be reserved to accommodate split/broken family, Mehram for successful ladies, attendants for disabled/ special persons and any other hardship need. The applicants for hardship quota would be selected as per the guidelines issued by the ministry.

A quota of 300 seats would be reserved for low paid employees (BPS 1-9 or equivalent), labourers of public sector, corporate organisations, companies registered with the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and Workers Welfare Fund.

Substitution cases would be entertained in respect of those successful applicants, who could not proceed for Hajj either due to death, serious illness or any other unavoidable reason, as per the guidelines, issued by the ministry.

The tentative Hajj package of government Hajj scheme for Hajj 2025 would be between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000. However, this is tentative package, which is subject to finalisation of contracts with service providers for air fare, accommodation, transport etc.

The applicants would be Pakistani citizens having valid Pakistani passport up to December 16, 2025.

Children under the age of 12 years are not permitted to participate in Hajj 2025 as per the directions, issues by the Saudi government.