Pakistan says 16,000 seats vacant under private Hajj scheme as Oct. 17 deadline looms

SAIMA SHABBIR
Muslim pilgrims pray around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca on June 16, 2024, as they perform the farewell circumambulation or "tawaf", circling seven times around the large black cube, which is the focal point on the final day of the hajj. (AFP/File)
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  • Pakistan has been allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026
  • Around 60,000 seats have been given to private tour operators this year

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan鈥檚 religious affairs ministry said on Monday that around 16,000 seats remain vacant under this year鈥檚 private Hajj scheme, urging intending pilgrims to book their births before an Oct. 17 deadline.

Pakistan has been allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026. Of these, around 118,000 seats have been allocated to the government scheme and the rest to private tour operators.

鈥淯nder the Private Hajj Scheme 2026, bookings for 44,000 pilgrims have so far been completed out of a total quota of 60,000,鈥� the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said in a statement.

鈥淭hose wishing to perform Hajj under the private scheme are advised to complete their bookings with ministry-approved Hajj companies before the deadline.鈥�

Around 63,000 Pakistani pilgrims were unable to perform Hajj last year under the private scheme due to payment delays and mismanagement by private tour operators, forcing Islamabad to surrender the unused quota to 黑料社区.

Last month, Pakistan announced that Hajj applicants who are unable to proceed due to emergencies can either request a refund or nominate a blood relative to perform the pilgrimage on their behalf the following year 鈥� a major relief for intending pilgrims.

Under the government鈥檚 Hajj scheme, applicants paid an initial installment of Rs500,000 ($1,764) or Rs550,000 ($1,941), depending on the selected package, in August, while the remaining amount will be collected in November.

Topics: Hajj 2026 Private Hajj scheme