Islamabad: The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony announced an extension for Hajj 2026 applications under the government scheme.
According to ministry spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt, designated banks will continue receiving applications on Monday, August 18, under the “first-come, first-served” policy. However, the online portal will close permanently at midnight on August 16.
So far, more than 110,000 applications have been received in the past 12 days, while nearly 7,000 seats remain vacant under the official quota.
The spokesperson said that once the remaining seats are filled, the application process will stop immediately.
This year’s Hajj scheme offers two packages. The long package spans 38–42 days, while the short package lasts 20–25 days. The cost ranges between Rs 1.15 million and Rs 1.25 million.
Applicants must submit an initial installment of Rs500,000 or Rs550,000 depending on their chosen package, with the balance due from November 1.
The ministry clarified that overseas Pakistanis with valid Pakistani passports are also eligible to apply. Under the new quota policy, 70 percent of seats are reserved for the government scheme, while 30 percent are allocated to private tour operators.
Pakistan’s overall quota stands at 179,210 pilgrims, including 119,210 under the government scheme and 60,000 through private operators. The quota is pending final approval by Saudi authorities.
