Pakistan approves first four-year framework for Hajj arrangements; registration process also changed

Islamabad: The federal government has adopted a new strategy to modernise Hajj arrangements in the coming years and has approved a four-year national Hajj framework for 2027 to 2030. According to officials, the aim of this move is to create a permanent system instead of making a new policy every year through which pilgrims can be provided with better planning, transparent services and modern facilities.

According to official sources, after the implementation of the new policy, the registration system for Hajj aspirants is being made easier than before. Now citizens will be able to register in advance as per their convenience without waiting for a specific year and will be able to choose their turn according to the Hajj programme available in the coming years. This mechanism is expected to help in managing applications and organising the waiting list more effectively.

The government has also made preparation of Hajj expenses a part of the policy in the future. For this purpose, it has been decided to introduce a Sharia-compliant savings programme so that citizens can save their Hajj expenses in advance by accumulating funds in stages.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Hajj operation will be gradually shifted to a fully digital system. Payments, applications, registration of complaints, monitoring and other administrative matters will be linked to the online platform to increase transparency and expedite the delivery of services.

The policy has maintained separate arrangements for government and private Hajj schemes, while short and long-term packages will also be available for people with different financial capabilities. In addition, mandatory training sessions for pilgrims, Takaful facilities and special arrangements to deal with emergencies have also been included.

The federal cabinet also emphasised that the selection of Hajj assistants should be done only through merit and a transparent procedure. It has also been directed to make impartial evaluation of the performance of Hajj service providers a part of the administrative system so that quality services can be provided to pilgrims.

During the meeting, the cabinet also approved outsourcing of two medical institutions in Islamabad to improve their administrative affairs. According to the government, the aim of this move is to improve the quality of health facilities and provide more effective services to patients.

Briefing the cabinet on the latest financial performance of Pakistan Railways, the Federal Minister for Railways said that the overall revenue of the institution has recorded a significant increase compared to the previous fiscal year. The improvement in revenue from freight, property and other business sectors was attributed to administrative reforms, while an increase in revenue from passengers was also reported.

Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction over the ongoing operations against terrorism and said that the security agencies are continuously fulfilling their responsibilities to establish peace and stability in the country. He paid tribute to Group Captain Asim Tariq of the Pakistan Air Force, who sacrificed his life while helping a woman in Islamabad and said that the accused involved in the incident will face his end according to the law.

The Prime Minister described his recent visit to Turkey as important for promoting economic cooperation between the two countries, saying that positive progress has been made on shared opportunities in various sectors, including energy, minerals, privatisation, ports and investment. According to him, the two countries also reiterated their commitment to increase mutual trade and investment.