ISLAMABAD: There is encouraging news for Pakistanis aspiring to perform Hajj this year, as around 16,000 seats remain unfilled under the Private Hajj Scheme, according to sources cited by ARY News.
With only four days left before the October 17 booking deadline, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has instructed private Hajj operators to complete the registration process promptly. Bookings through the ministry’s online portal will remain open until the cutoff date.
So far, 44,000 pilgrims have booked their slots under the private scheme, leaving 16,000 vacancies available. Private operators began taking bookings on September 19 under their new quota of 60,000 pilgrims, which was reduced from the previous 90,000 allocation.
A total of 21,654 individuals who were unable to perform Hajj previously will also be accommodated this year. Officials added that private Hajj operators are required to prioritize those left out last year before accepting new applicants.
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the private Hajj quota has been distributed as follows: 22,096 seats for last year’s pending pilgrims and 37,903 for new applicants. Operators must submit affidavits confirming re-registration of the pending pilgrims to ensure compliance.
Meanwhile, the ministry has completed the application phase for Pakistan’s Government Hajj Scheme 2026. A total of 118,060 applications were received nationwide, marking the close of the submission process, which ran for 17 days — shorter than in previous years due to a surge in early applications.
Applicants under the government scheme were able to apply for both short and long Hajj packages. The first installment, amounting to about 50 percent of the total cost, has already been deposited, while the second payment is due from November 1, 2025.
Experts estimate that the total cost under the government program will range between PKR 1.15 million and PKR 1.25 million, depending on the duration of stay and the applicant’s location.
Officials have urged prospective pilgrims to complete their bookings before the October 17 deadline to secure their place for Hajj 2026 under the private scheme.
