The federal cabinet approved Pakistan’s Hajj Policy for 2025 on Tuesday, announcing that 179,210 Pakistanis will participate in the pilgrimage next year, according to reports.
The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, reviewed Pakistan’s Hajj quota for 2025, setting it at 179,210 pilgrims, divided equally between government and private sector allocations. The government quota will be assigned through a computerized ballot system. Notably, children under 12 years of age will not be permitted to participate in Hajj 2025. Additionally, 1,000 seats will be reserved for hardship cases, and 300 seats will be allocated for low-income workers registered with the Workers Welfare Fund or the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution.
The cabinet was informed that the “Road to Makkah” service will be available at Islamabad and Karachi airports. Hajj group organizers will formalize agreements with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and their service standards will be monitored closely.
A new role of “Nazim” has been introduced to enhance service quality for pilgrims, with one Nazim assigned for every 100 pilgrims, chosen from welfare staff.
In case of accidents during Hajj, compensation amounts have been raised, with families of deceased pilgrims set to receive up to Rs 2 million, and injured pilgrims eligible for Rs 1 million each.
For easier pilgrimage management, a special Hajj app has been developed, with tailored training programs for the pilgrims. The cabinet has directed that priority in the Hajj lottery be given to those who have not previously performed Hajj, and measures should be taken to ensure excellent services for all pilgrims.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs also issued health guidelines for 2025, aligning with Saudi requirements to safeguard the pilgrims’ well-being. Certain individuals are prohibited from participating in Hajj due to health concerns, including patients on dialysis, individuals with heart or respiratory conditions, those requiring artificial respiration, individuals with liver disease, pregnant women beyond seven months, and those with contagious diseases, TB, cancer, or cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
