The Ministry of Religious Affairs announced that all 79,000 applicants who submitted their Hajj forms by December 10 are now confirmed for the 2025 pilgrimage. This news came just in time on the final day for applications.
Due to high demand, the ministry will keep accepting applications on a first come, first served basis for the limited slots left. A spokesperson said, “We’re keeping the process open because of the immense interest from prospective pilgrims.”
According to the Hajj Policy 2025, Pakistan will send 179,210 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, with a 50:50 split between government and private Hajj schemes. The Hajj, a key Islamic pillar, saw over 1.83 million pilgrims in 2024. Last year, 90% of the 1.8 million participants came from overseas, mainly from the Arab world and Asia.
On December 3, the ministry extended the application deadline by a week due to challenges faced by residents in remote areas. This extension led to 10,000 new applications. The decision to continue accepting applications was made to accommodate the insistent aspirants.
The ministry will stop accepting applications once the quota is full. New applicants must obtain a computerized receipt from the bank, which will determine their place in the queue. The sponsorship Hajj scheme will also continue on a first come, first served basis.
An announcement about the second installment of Hajj dues will follow once the government quota is filled. Pilgrims are encouraged to use the ‘Pak Hajj Mobile App’ for updates on dues, training, and flight schedules.
