Pakistan Receives Over 58,000 Applications for 2026 Hajj; Banks Open Saturday for Submissions
Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs announced on Friday that more than 58,000 pilgrims have already applied for the 2026 Hajj. To accommodate the high demand, designated banks will remain open on Saturday, August 9, to continue accepting application forms.
For the upcoming Hajj season, Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims. Out of this, 129,210 seats are reserved under the government scheme, while the remaining quota is designated for private tour operators.
The government offers two Hajj packages: a longer option lasting 38 to 42 days, and a shorter package spanning 20 to 25 days. The estimated cost for the government-arranged pilgrimage ranges between Rs1.15 million and Rs1.25 million (approximately $4,050 to $4,236).
Applicants can submit their forms online or at any of the 14 authorized banks designated by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Registration operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and applicants must pay their first installment by Saturday, with the second installment due in November.
In 2025, Pakistan received the same quota; however, a significant portion of the private sector’s allocation remained unused due to delays in payment and registration. Meanwhile, the government successfully utilized its entire quota of over 88,000 pilgrims.
Private Hajj operators pointed to technical issues such as payment processing problems and communication gaps as key reasons for the underutilization of their quota.
