ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will launch a Shariah-compliant Hajj savings scheme within the next two to three months, allowing prospective pilgrims to gradually save for the annual Islamic pilgrimage while securing a place years in advance with a 10 percent upfront payment, senior religious affairs officials said on Wednesday.
The savings plan is among the first major initiatives under Pakistan’s new long-term Hajj framework, which aims to modernize the country’s pilgrimage management through 2030 through multi-year registration, greater private-sector participation and expanded digital services. The cabinet approved the four-year policy earlier this month, with officials on Wednesday providing further details of how the new system will operate.
“We have obtained principal approval for the saving scheme from the government. The features will be determined with the financial institution that will work with us (Ministry of Religious Affairs),” Religious Affairs Secretary Abrar Ahmed Mirza told Arab News.
Under the proposed scheme, intending pilgrims will make monthly deposits into a savings account managed by a financial institution while reserving their preferred Hajj year by paying 10 percent of the estimated pilgrimage cost.
“For example, if you want to go for Hajj in 2035, you will pay 10 percent of the current Hajj cost and your slot will be booked. At the same time, you have joined the saving scheme,” Mirza said.
He said the scheme would offer participants a choice between a Shariah-compliant profit-bearing account and a non-profit current account, with the Islamic investment option helping savers offset rising pilgrimage costs over time.
“In both cases, when the amount accumulated is transferred to the ministry, your slot will be confirmed for that year. The cost of Hajj will be determined for the particular year that is chosen, but the Shariah-compliant profit will give you a cushion to cover risk and inflation,” Mirza said.
The secretary said the religious affairs ministry expects to launch the scheme within the next two to three months, though it will be administered by a financial institution rather than the ministry itself.
Under the government’s new Hajj framework for 2027-2030, intending pilgrims will be able to register continuously for any pilgrimage season through 2030 instead of applying during annual registration windows.
The policy also fixes the Hajj quota at 60 percent for the government scheme and 40 percent for private operators, while introducing a digital waiting list, expanded online services, third-party audits and stronger oversight of private tour operators.
Speaking to Arab News, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf also praised Saudi Arabia’s cooperation in facilitating Pakistani pilgrims, particularly through the Makkah Route Initiative, which allows travelers to complete immigration procedures before departing Pakistan.
“Last year, the Makkah Route Initiative was implemented from Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore. It is great cooperation, and they are paying the expenses for this, not us. Our 80 percent pilgrims benefited from that scheme,” the minister said.
Pakistan is one of the world’s largest contributors of Hajj pilgrims. The South Asian nation was allocated a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the 2026 pilgrimage, including 119,210 under the government scheme and 60,000 through private operators.
The pilgrimage currently costs about Rs1.2 million ($4,318) to Rs1.3 million ($4,678) under the government scheme, placing it beyond the immediate reach of many common Pakistanis.
