ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued important guidelines for Pakistani pilgrims intending to perform Hajj in 2027 under the private Hajj scheme, specifically warning against making cash payments.
According to the Ministry, pilgrims traveling under the private Hajj scheme should not pay their Hajj expenses in cash to any individual, agent, or Hajj operator; instead, they must use the official digital system designated by the government for payments.
The Ministry has clarified that pilgrims should make payments for their expenses solely through the officially designated digital Hajj Management System or the ‘Pak Hajj App’. The primary objective of this measure is to protect pilgrims from potential fraud, deception, and financial loss.
Officials state that using the official digital system will enable effective monitoring of private Hajj operators’ dealings and ensure a transparent record of pilgrims’ payments.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has warned pilgrims to avoid handing over money to any unauthorized individual outside the prescribed procedure, as doing so carries the risk of financial loss.
It should be noted that under the Hajj policy, pilgrims preparing and booking for the 2027 Hajj operations must select only those private Hajj operators who are officially licensed by the government.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan’s total Hajj quota for 2027 has been set at 179,210; of this, 71,684 Pakistani pilgrims will be able to perform Hajj under the private scheme, while the remaining pilgrims will undertake the pilgrimage through the government Hajj scheme.
