Pakistan approves new private Hajj policy with strict regulations

The federal government has approved a new Private Hajj Policy for 2027-2030, introducing stricter regulations, enhanced oversight, and a fully digital management system aimed at improving transparency and protecting pilgrims.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved a new Private Hajj Policy for 2027-2030, introducing stricter regulations, enhanced oversight, and a fully digital management system aimed at improving transparency and protecting pilgrims.

The policy, approved by the federal cabinet on the recommendation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, replaces the traditional quota allocation system with a performance and compliance-based framework. Officials say the reforms are designed to ensure better service delivery and accountability among private Hajj operators.

According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, all existing Hajj operators will undergo a fresh evaluation process before being allowed to continue operations. Companies that meet the required standards will be granted licenses valid for three years.

Under the new policy, Hajj quotas will be allocated on a “first come, first served” basis. Each operator will be required to secure bookings for at least 2,000 pilgrims. Companies failing to meet this threshold will be declared inactive and may lose their eligibility to participate in future Hajj operations.

The government has also introduced strict penalties for non-compliance. Operators that fail to fulfill their obligations could face the forfeiture of up to half of their security deposits. In such cases, affected pilgrims will be automatically transferred to other approved Hajj companies to prevent disruptions to their travel plans.

To improve service quality, all private Hajj companies will be independently assessed and ranked by experts. The evaluation system is expected to encourage healthy competition and help pilgrims make informed choices when selecting service providers.

A key feature of the new policy is the complete digitization of private Hajj operations. All bookings will be processed exclusively through the Private Hajj Management Portal (PHMP), which will be integrated with the databases of NADRA and the State Bank of Pakistan. This integration is intended to enhance verification procedures and streamline financial transactions.

The policy also imposes a complete ban on cash bookings and cash-based transactions. Hajj operators will no longer be permitted to hold pilgrims’ funds. Instead, payments for services in Saudi Arabia will be made directly to service providers through official banking channels.

Officials believe the reforms will significantly improve transparency, financial discipline, and consumer protection. The government also stated that the updated framework aligns Pakistan’s private Hajj system with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, supporting modernized and efficient pilgrimage management for future Hajj seasons.