ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The federal cabinet Wednesday approved the Hajj Policy 2026, bringing in key changes to the distribution of Hajj quotas with the government to start receiving applications for next year’s Hajj from Monday.
Under the next year’s Hajj policy, the government Hajj scheme quota has been increased to 70 percent, while the private Hajj tour operators will now get 30 percent of the total quota.
The Hajj package under the government scheme is expected to cost between Rs11,50,000 and Rs12,50,000.
Sources said that an initial summary had proposed a 40% government and 60% private sector quota, but PM Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who chaired the cabinet meeting, directed that the government quota be enhanced to 70 percent.
This year’s Hajj quota
This year Pakistan’s total Hajj quota was 179,210, equally divided between the government and private sectors. However, mismanagement left over 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims unable to perform Hajj this year.
The revised policy aims to ensure better transparency and accessibility for pilgrims to the government scheme.
Meanwhile, the collection of Hajj 2026 charges will begin in the first week of next month.
The sources said Hajj 2026 expenses will be collected in two instalments, the first likely to be collected in August.
Only those who have registered themselves for Hajj 2026 will be eligible to submit the required payments and once the required number of payments collected in line with the available quota, the process will be closed.
