Pakistan unveils Hajj 2025 policy: Key details on cost, quotas, application deadline

The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Monday unveiled the Hajj 2025 policy, detailing the costs, application timelines, and quotas for Pakistani pilgrims under both government and private schemes.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, presented the policy in a press conference in Islamabad following its approval by the federal cabinet last week.

The policy sets the quota for Pakistani pilgrims at 179,210, with an equal distribution of 79,600 pilgrims for both the government and private schemes.

Application Process and Deadlines
Applications for the government Hajj scheme will be accepted from November 18 to December 3, 2024.

A balloting process will be conducted on December 6 to select the pilgrims for the government scheme. However, citizens under the age of 12 will not be eligible to perform Hajj under this policy.

Hajj Costs and Payment Structure
The cost for a Pakistani pilgrim to perform Hajj in 2025 is expected to range between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000, depending on the package.

Applicants will need to pay an initial deposit of Rs200,000 when submitting their application. Following the balloting, selected pilgrims will be required to submit an additional Rs400,000. The remaining balance must be paid by February 10, 2025.

In the event of cancellation, the first installment will be refunded after a deduction of Rs50,000. However, if a pilgrim fails to pay the third installment by the deadline, they will receive no refund, and a deduction of Rs200,000 will apply.

Compensation and Special Allocations
The policy also includes an increase in compensation for the heirs of deceased pilgrims, rising from Rs1 million to Rs2 million.

Additionally, the government has allocated 1,000 seats for hardship cases and 300 seats for laborers and low-income employees registered with the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) or Workers Welfare Fund.

Special Features for 2025 Pilgrimage
For the convenience of pilgrims, the “Road to Makkah” facility will be available at Islamabad and Karachi international airports.

The Hajj group organizers will be required to sign a service provider agreement with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which will be closely monitored.

A new role of “Nazim” (administrator) has been introduced, with one Nazim assigned to every group of 100 pilgrims to ensure smooth management. Additionally, a special Hajj Management App has been developed to assist pilgrims, and training arrangements have been made for the welfare staff.

Priority for Previous Year’s Applicants
The federal cabinet stressed prioritising pilgrims who were unsuccessful in last year’s balloting. The cabinet also called for enhanced efforts to ensure the smooth facilitation of pilgrims and to address any issues promptly.