ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the Hajj Policy and Plan for 2027-2030, the country’s first-ever Hajj policy for more than one year.
The decision was taken during the meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in which several other important decisions were approved, according to the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The new Hajj policy, unlike the previous one-year policies, consists of the first four-year plan aimed at improving long-term planning, improving operations, and providing the best facilities to pilgrims.
“SOPs and other regulations will be made for the implementation of the proposed policy. Amendments can be made as needed to bring the policy into line with Saudi laws and regulations,” the statement added.
Under the new policy, pilgrims will be able to register for Hajj for any year up to 2030 through a continuous registration system instead of annual registration. A priority waiting list will also be maintained based on registrations.
The cabinet was informed that a Sharia-compliant Hajj savings scheme will also be introduced, enabling prospective pilgrims to save gradually for future Hajj expenses.
The meeting was further informed about the complete digitalization of the Hajj management system, under which payments, registration, complaint handling, and monitoring will be digital.
According to the briefing, quotas have been allocated for both government and private Hajj schemes, while new long-duration and short-duration Hajj packages will also be introduced. The policy also incorporates mandatory pilgrim training, Takaful coverage, and enhanced emergency response arrangements.
The federal cabinet directed that the appointment of Hajj assistants should be made through a transparent system and purely on merit, while third-party validation of government and private Hajj operations should also be ensured.
The cabinet praised Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and the ministry’s team for the excellent Hajj arrangements this year.
