By khuram shahzad ISLAMABAD, Jul 27 (APP):In a historic first, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has launched a comprehensive 16-page multi-year Hajj Policy and Plan covering 2027 to 2030. Designed to bring long-term stability and cost efficiency to Hajj operations, the strategy relies on securing three- to four-year contracts in Saudi Arabia for air travel, accommodation, transport, catering, and baggage management. Under this new framework, 60% of …
3-Year Hajj Policy Framework: Replaces annual planning with a multi-year policy to Stable Rates & Continuity
By khuram shahzad
ISLAMABAD, Jul 27 (APP):In a historic first, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has launched a comprehensive 16-page multi-year Hajj Policy and Plan covering 2027 to 2030. Designed to bring long-term stability and cost efficiency to Hajj operations, the strategy relies on securing three- to four-year contracts in Saudi Arabia for air travel, accommodation, transport, catering, and baggage management.
Under this new framework, 60% of the overall quota is designated for the Government Scheme while 40% goes to private operators. Additionally, all paper cash transactions have been eliminated, routing all financial operations exclusively through the State Bank of Pakistan and integrated digital portals.
To help citizens plan their pilgrimage without stress, the ministry is introducing a multi-year registration list alongside a “Hajj Savings Scheme.” By depositing 10% of the estimated total cost, applicants can lock in a priority spot on a first-come, first-served basis for their intended travel year.
Government pilgrims will have the choice between a 38-to-42-day standard long package and a 20-to-25-day short package. Maintaining financial transparency, any operational surplus left at the conclusion of the season will be refunded directly back to the pilgrims.
Major social and regulatory reforms form a central pillar of the new policy. Women are now permitted to perform Hajj without a male guardian (Mahram), provided they submit an official undertaking. Meanwhile, strict anti-monopoly measures have been established for private operators to dismantle industry cartels; buying, selling, or sub-letting Hajj quotas is strictly banned.
Private companies must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), process all data through the official Private Hajj Management Portal, and maintain specified capital reserves along with a 5% performance guarantee to secure a three-year license. Any operator failing to meet a minimum quota of 2,000 pilgrims will be deactivated, losing half its security deposit while its pilgrims are reassigned.
Pilgrim welfare, safety, and operational readiness are also heavily prioritized in the four-part plan. Mandatory training will cover rituals, Saudi laws, health hygiene, and relevant mobile applications, while welfare assistants (Moawineen) will be recruited purely on merit according to guidelines set by the Cabinet Committee on Private Hajj Policy.
Financial protection is integrated through the Takaful-based Hujjaj Muhafiz Scheme, funded by a non-refundable PKR 1,000 fee, offering PKR 2 million to the families of pilgrims who pass away during Hajj and PKR 250,000 for emergency medical evacuations. Finally, an Emergency Response Team under the Director-General of Hajj has been formed to handle crisis situations, and the Federal Minister retains the authority to adapt policies as required by changing Saudi directives.
