More Than 58,000 People Apply for Hajj 2026

For 2026, Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims.

By DTD- On Aug 10, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs announced on Friday that more than 58,000 applications have been submitted by prospective pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj. To facilitate the process, designated banks will remain open on Saturday, August 9, to continue accepting forms.

For 2026, Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims. Of these, 129,210 seats fall under the government scheme, while the remaining quota is assigned to private tour operators.

The government offers two options for pilgrims: a long Hajj package of 38–42 days and a short package of 20–25 days. The estimated cost for the government-arranged pilgrimage ranges between Rs1.15 million and Rs1.25 million (approximately $4,050–$4,236).

According to the ministry, applications are being accepted both online and through the 14 designated banks authorized by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Applicants are registered on a first-come, first-served basis and must submit their first installment by Saturday. The second installment will be collected in November.

The statement noted that in 2025, Pakistan had been given the same quota, but a large portion of the private sector allocation went unused. This shortfall was attributed to delays by tour operators in completing payment and registration requirements, whereas the government successfully utilized its entire quota of over 88,000 pilgrims.

Private Hajj operators cited technical challenges — including payment processing difficulties and communication lapses — as the main reasons for the underutilization of their quota.