ISLAMABAD: The government Hajj scheme for 2027 is rapidly approaching capacity, with only 18,500 seats remaining under the long Hajj package, according to media reports and the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The ministry has urged intending pilgrims who wish to perform Hajj under the government scheme to complete their applications and payment formalities at the earliest, warning that bookings for the 40-day package will be closed once the allocated quota is filled.
Over 88,000 pilgrims deposit first instalment
Media reports quoted statistics released by the Ministry of Religious Affairs showing that 88,700 pilgrims have so far deposited the first instalment of their Hajj dues under the government scheme.
Punjab accounts for the largest share, with 46,400 pilgrims having deposited their instalment, followed by 23,500 from Sindh and 11,300 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The ministry said 3,933 pilgrims from Islamabad, 2,555 from Balochistan, 677 from Gilgit-Baltistan and 362 from Azad Jammu and Kashmir had also deposited their dues.
The latest figures follow the launch of the Hajj Management System, through which applications, document verification, payments and application tracking have been brought together on a single digital platform.
Digital payments cross Rs55bn in three days
The National IT Board’s digital Hajj system has also registered a new record in online payments, with more than Rs55 billion collected as the first instalment of Hajj dues in just three days.
Around 40 per cent of pilgrims opted to pay their dues online through 1LINK and card-based channels. Balochistan recorded the highest proportion of online payments, with around 72pc of pilgrims using digital payment facilities.
The ministry spokesperson said intending pilgrims could make payments through PSID, cards or bank challans via the Pak Hajj App and Hajj Portal.
The government had earlier announced that Hajj 2027 dues would be collected in two equal instalments, with the first instalment payable at the time of application.
The digital system was introduced to reduce paperwork, eliminate unnecessary visits to banks and make the process more transparent and convenient.
The spokesperson advised intending pilgrims not to delay completing their details and payment, as applications for the 40-day package will no longer be accepted once the allocated quota is exhausted.
