Senate Panel Summons Hajj Official Over 12,479 Complaints as 2027 Registration Opens
Several Hajis reported faulty housing and transport failures during Hajj 2026/1447. Women will no longer need a mahram starting next year.
ISLAMABAD: Twelve thousand, four hundred and seventy-nine complaints. The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs is seeking clear explanations from Director General Hajj Makkah Abdul Wahab Sumro, aiming to build trust in the process.
The Senate Standing Committee, which is chaired by Senator Ata-ur-Rehman, received a briefing by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) on Hajj 2026 this week. Officials confirmed what pilgrims had been saying for months: housing fell short, transport broke down, and food and medical services had gaps.
Some of the buildings assigned to pilgrims didn’t meet contract standards. The property owners were fined a combined 510,000 Saudi Riyals. More buses went out later in the season, after it became clear the original fleet wasn’t enough.
Senators were not in a forgiving mood. Several pointed out that pilgrims had sold valuables to afford the trip, then landed in Makkah to find problems that shouldn’t have existed in the first place. Others wanted to know why the same catering company keeps winning contracts, and who exactly was supposed to be watching operations on the ground.
Ata-ur-Rehman’s response: bring Sumro back next session, and have him answer for it directly.
Registration for Hajj 2027-2030
Meanwhile, registration for 2027-2030 is already open, offering prospective pilgrims a chance to plan ahead with confidence. The ministry has already opened pre-registration for Hajj 2027 through 2030 for Pakistanis and applicants worldwide via the e-portal or partner banks, with a valid passport through at least November 16, 2027, required. Over 283,000 have signed up so far, and processing continues through the holidays.
Two rules are locked in for 2027.
For Hajj 2027, children under 12 still can not perform Hajj, similar to this year, but women no longer need a mahram, following a fatwa from Saudi scholars based on recent guidance.
Applicants are advised to regularly check the official channels of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) for the latest document requirements and updates, ensuring they feel guided and supported throughout the process.
