Pakistan Overhauls Private Hajj System After 67,000 Pilgrims Missed 2025 Season

New policy replaces quota-based allocation with a performance-driven, fully digital framework covering 2027 to 2030

Pakistan’s federal cabinet has approved a sweeping overhaul of the country’s private Hajj system, scrapping a quota-based model in favour of a performance and compliance-driven framework, a direct response to last year’s crisis that left around 67,000 Pakistanis unable to perform Hajj despite having paid and booked through private operators.

The Private Hajj Policy 2027–2030 (1448-1551) was approved on Friday on the recommendation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. What prompted it was difficult to ignore: large numbers of private companies failed to complete payments, contracts, and other Saudi requirements before deadlines closed, leaving tens of thousands of pilgrims at home. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a government inquiry, and the case drew parliamentary scrutiny and months of public criticism.

Performance over quota

Under the previous system, private operators received fixed quota allocations regardless of how well they performed. That arrangement is gone. Hajj quotas are no longer allocated. Rather, the Private Hajj Management Portal (PHMP) will now be used to book slots on a first-come, first-served basis, and each operator will have to book a minimum of 2,000 pilgrims to remain active. Companies that fall below the threshold will be declared non-operational, their pilgrims automatically transferred to other providers, and half of their security deposit forfeited.

All existing operators face mandatory re-evaluation by independent authorities and experts before they can continue, ensuring adherence to new standards. New entrants will undergo a two-stage pre-assessment process before receiving any operating clearance, with licenses valid for three years and subject to annual reviews to maintain quality and compliance.

“A performance- and compliance-based system has been introduced for private Hajj in place of the quota system,” the Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement. “The re-evaluation of existing Hajj operators has been made mandatory.”

What is the two-stage entry pathway for new entrants?

Getting approved as a new Hajj operator in Pakistan now takes two stages. Both are mandatory, and neither can be skipped.

First comes the pre-assessment. The applicant submits a detailed proposal to the Ministry of Religious Affairs — ownership structure, financial standing, planned operational tier, governance setup, and digital readiness. If the Ministry is satisfied, it issues a Pre-Registration Clearance Certificate (PRCC). That document is what unlocks the next step—no PRCC, no path forward.

The second stage is the formal registration phase. The applicant registers with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), meets corporate governance and internal control requirements, and receives the Hajj Operations Recognition Letter (HORL) from the Ministry. That letter is the final green light. Only then is the company allowed to serve pilgrims.

The logic is straightforward: the first stage filters out underprepared entrants before they ever get close to pilgrim bookings or funds. The second locks in the regulatory standing. Together, they replace what was previously a much more permissive entry system.

No cash, no exceptions

Perhaps the most consequential change is a complete ban on operators holding pilgrim funds at any stage, emphasizing the policy’s focus on transparency. All payments to Saudi service providers will be made directly through the State Bank of Pakistan’s official account, with bookings processed solely via the PHMP linked to NADRA and the State Bank for identity and financial verification, eliminating manual handling of data or funds.

The sale or transfer of quota between operators has also been banned, and the policy expressly bars cartelization and anti-competitive practices arrangements that regulators said played a role in last year’s failures.

How the crisis unfolded

Around 67,000 Pakistanis who had paid private Hajj operators were unable to travel for Hajj 2025 after those companies missed the Saudi-side payment and contract deadlines. The government inquiry that followed found weak enforcement mechanisms and no meaningful digital oversight of how operators handled pilgrim funds. The new framework’s design, with unique Hajj identification numbers for every pilgrim, digital audit trails, and direct disbursement to Saudi service providers, addresses those specific failures.

Officials said the reforms are also aimed at aligning Pakistan’s private Hajj operations with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which includes higher standards for international pilgrimage services, fostering a sense of progress and international cooperation.

Pakistan’s overall Hajj quota stands at 179,210 pilgrims, divided evenly between the government and private schemes. The government scheme operates under separate rules, with selection through computerized balloting and reserved seats for hardship cases, low-income workers registered under the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution or Workers Welfare Fund, and others.

The Private Hajj Policy 2027–2030 covers the Hajj years 1448 to 1451 AH. The Ministry said registration timelines and further implementation details will be announced ahead of the first season under the new rules.