The federal cabinet has approved the Hajj Policy 2025, enabling 179,210 Pakistani nationals to perform the Hajj next year. The policy divides the Hajj quota equally between government and private schemes.
The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was informed that computerised balloting would make selections for the government scheme.
The policy reserves 1,000 seats for hardship cases and 300 for labourers and low-income employees registered with the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution or the Workers Welfare Fund.
Facilities such as the Road to Makkah will be available at Islamabad and Karachi international airports, where the Hajj Group Organizers will enter into a service provider agreement with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, subject to strict monitoring.
Nazim has been introduced to aid pilgrims, with one Nazim assigned per 100 pilgrims from the welfare staff. Compensation for heirs of pilgrims who die during Hajj has been increased to Rs2 million, and Rs1 million for those injured.
A special Hajj Management App has been developed to assist pilgrims, complemented by training on app usage. The cabinet prioritized individuals unsuccessful in last year’s balloting and emphasized comprehensive measures to facilitate pilgrims.
