Pakistan Private Hajj Scheme Faces Low Registration as 16,000 Spots Remain Vacant

There is good news for those planning to perform the sacred Hajj pilgrimage this year. According to ARY News, around 16,000 seats are still available under Pakistan’s Private Hajj Scheme. This update brings a sigh of relief to many pilgrims who were worried about missing the chance to register.

Officials have confirmed that only four days remain before the booking window closes. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that its online portal for private Hajj bookings will close on October 17. All private Hajj operators have been instructed to complete the registration and submission process within the given deadline to avoid any last-minute issues.

So far, 44,000 pilgrims have successfully booked their slots under the private scheme, leaving about 16,000 seats still vacant. Private Hajj operators began accepting applications on September 19 as part of their new 60,000-pilgrim quota, which has been reduced from 90,000 last year. The reduction was made to balance the allocation between the government and private sectors.

In another positive development, the ministry has announced that 21,654 pilgrims who were unable to perform Hajj previously—due to various reasons such as travel restrictions or health concerns—will now be accommodated this year. This step aims to ensure that those who have been waiting for their turn finally get the opportunity to fulfill this religious duty.

According to official figures, 37,903 new applicants can still apply for Hajj 2026 under the private scheme. In addition, 22,097 deferred applicants from last year have already been re-registered and will receive priority processing. The ministry has made it mandatory for all private operators to submit affidavits confirming the inclusion of these deferred pilgrims before approving new applications. This measure ensures transparency and fairness in the selection process.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) has also completed the application phase for the Government Hajj Scheme 2026. The response from the public has been impressive—118,060 applications were received from across Pakistan before the submission period ended.

The application process, which lasted 17 days, was conducted on a first-come, first-served basis through both online registration and designated bank branches. Pilgrims were given the flexibility to choose between short-duration and long-duration Hajj packages, depending on their budget and personal preferences.

For the government scheme, each applicant has already paid 50 percent of the total cost as the first installment. The remaining payment will be collected from November 1, 2025.

According to experts, the total cost of performing Hajj under the government scheme is expected to range between PKR 1.15 million and PKR 1.25 million, depending on the region of the applicant and the length of stay in Saudi Arabia. While the cost remains high, officials assure that efforts are being made to ensure maximum comfort and facilities for all pilgrims at every stage of their sacred journey.

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