Pakistan has announced the cost of government-sponsored Hajj packages for 2027, with pilgrims expected to pay between Rs1.2 million and Rs1.3 million, depending on the duration of their stay in Saudi Arabia.
Under the government scheme, the 40–42-day package will cost Rs1.2 million, while the shorter 20–22-day package has been fixed at Rs1.3 million.
The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, disclosed the figures during a press conference in Islamabad, where he also announced that the country would move virtually the entire Hajj registration, payment and management process to the Pak Hajj mobile application.
According to the minister, payment of the first instalment will commence on August 17, while the second instalment is expected in the second week of October.
The government has allocated 30,000 seats for pilgrims opting for the short-duration package.
Yousuf said about 400,000 intending pilgrims have already registered and are currently passing through the application process. Those who are unsuccessful in securing seats for the 2027 pilgrimage will be placed on a waiting list for the following year.
The minister also announced the selection of Habib Bank Islamic as the authorised banking partner for the collection of Hajj payments. The agreement between the bank and the Ministry of Religious Affairs is expected to be signed on Monday.
Explaining the decision to select only one bank, Yousuf said all banks had been invited to participate, but Habib Bank was the only institution that fulfilled the ministry’s requirements, particularly in the area of digital payment services.
He added that pilgrims under the private Hajj scheme would also be required to make payments through the Pak Hajj application.
However, private pilgrims would be allowed to select their preferred service provider from companies approved by the ministry.
Speaking on the bank’s digital payment facilities, Habib Bank Islamic Head Asad Khan said about 99 per cent of the bank’s branches nationwide would provide digital payment services for Hajj pilgrims.
He added that pilgrims would also be able to make payments using debit and credit cards.
Khan said the bank operates more than 1,700 branches across Pakistan and has already expanded Islamic banking services to about 80 per cent of its branches in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with similar expansion underway in Balochistan.
He further assured intending pilgrims that the bank would not impose charges on Hajj payments made through its Islamic banking arrangement.