ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has started receiving applications and dues from intending pilgrims for Hajj 2026, the Pakistani religious affairs ministry said on Monday.

Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims. Of this, 129,210 seats have been allocated for the government scheme and the rest for private tour operators, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf announced on July 30.

Under the government Hajj scheme, pilgrims can avail either a long Hajj package of 38–42 days or a short package that consists of a duration of 20–25 days, with the estimated cost of the government’s Hajj package ranging from Rs1,150,000 to Rs1,250,000 [$4,049.93 to $4,236].

“Hajj applications can be submitted through hundreds of branches of 14 designated banks,” the religious affairs ministry said in a statement.

“Registered pilgrims can also submit their applications on the [Hajj] online portal from home.”

Individuals, registered on a first come, first served basis, can deposit the first installment of their Hajj dues by Saturday, August 9, according to the ministry.

“Fresh applicants will also be able to apply from August 11 to 16 if seats were available,” it said.

“Receipt of Hajj dues will immediately be stopped once all the seats are filled.”

The second installment of Hajj dues will be collected from November this year, according to the religious affairs ministry.

Saudi Arabia had approved a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Pakistan this year as well, but a large portion of the private Hajj quota for 2025 remained unutilized due to delays by tour operators in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government fulfilled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.

Private operators attributed the shortfall to technical issues, including payment processing problems and communication breakdowns.