Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs announced on Monday that it had received more than 20,000 Hajj applications as preparations for the annual pilgrimage, scheduled for June 2025, are underway.
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj, to be evenly split between government and private schemes. A dedicated quota of 5,000 has also been set aside for overseas Pakistanis, available on a “first-come, first-served” basis.
“By Monday, a total of 20,170 Hajj applications had been received,” a spokesperson for the ministry stated. Applications are being accepted at 15 designated banks across the country and will remain open until December 3 under the government Hajj scheme.
The government plans to conduct a lottery on December 6 to finalize the list of pilgrims for the scheme.
For the first time, the 2025 Hajj policy allows pilgrims to pay fees in installments. The initial payment of Rs200,000 ($717) must be submitted along with the application. A second installment of Rs400,000 ($1,435) is due within ten days of the lottery, with the remaining balance to be cleared by February 10, 2025.
To facilitate applicants, the ministry has launched the “Pak Hajj 2025” mobile application, which provides guidance and support to pilgrims. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.
Pakistan’s commitment to streamlining the Hajj process demonstrates the country’s dedication to ensuring a smooth pilgrimage experience for its citizens.
