Pakistan approves first four-year Hajj policy for 2027-2030, digitises pilgrimage system

The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved Pakistan's first-ever four-year Hajj Policy and Plan for 2027-2030, introducing long-term planning, a fully digitised Hajj management system, a Shariah-compliant savings scheme and continuous registration for intending pilgrims until 2030.

According to a statement issued after the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the cabinet unanimously approved the new Hajj policy and praised Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and his ministry's team for making excellent arrangements for this year's Hajj.

The cabinet was given a detailed briefing on the new policy, which replaces the previous practice of preparing Hajj policies on an annual basis. Officials said the four-year framework would enable better long-term planning, improved operational efficiency and enhanced facilities for pilgrims.

The cabinet was informed that standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other regulations would be framed for the implementation of the policy, while amendments could be made whenever required to ensure compliance with Saudi Arabian laws and regulations.

Under the new policy, pilgrims will no longer need to wait for annual registration announcements. Instead, they will be able to register continuously for Hajj up to 2030 according to their convenience, allowing authorities to prepare a priority-based waiting list.

The cabinet was also informed that a Shariah-compliant Hajj savings scheme would be launched, enabling people planning to perform Hajj in the future to gradually save funds through an organised mechanism.

As part of sweeping reforms, the government will digitise the entire Hajj management system. Payments, complaint registration and monitoring mechanisms will all be integrated into a digital platform to improve transparency and efficiency.

The policy also provides separate quotas for government and private Hajj schemes, while introducing both long-duration and short-duration Hajj programmes. It includes mandatory training for pilgrims, Takaful coverage and emergency response arrangements.

The cabinet directed that the appointment of Hajj assistants be carried out through a transparent process based strictly on merit. It also ordered third-party validation of both government and private Hajj operations to ensure accountability and service quality.

Separately, the cabinet approved a policy to outsource the services of the Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre and the Regional Blood Centre in Islamabad. The Ministry of National Health was directed to complete the outsourcing process in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations.

During the meeting, the Minister for Railways briefed the cabinet on the performance of Pakistan Railways. The cabinet was informed that railway revenue rose by Rs95 billion during 2024-25, pushing total revenue above Rs115 billion in the 2025-26 fiscal year, reflecting a 24.19 per cent increase.

The briefing highlighted significant growth in freight earnings, other operational revenue, property and land income, as well as a 3.37 per cent increase in passenger revenue. Officials said improvements in railway operations had also led to better freight cargo movement across the country.

The federal cabinet appreciated Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi and his team for the improved performance of the national railway system.

The cabinet ratified the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Legislation in its meeting held on May 19 and endorsed the decisions adopted by the Economic Coordination Committee during its meeting on July 2, 2026.