Private Hajj Scheme for 2027 Faces Fresh Challenges Over Saudi Quota and Timeline
Lahore: Pakistan’s private Hajj scheme for Hajj 2027 is facing a new challenge due to Saudi Arabia’s revised timeline and quota policy, with Hajj organizers warning that several key issues remain unresolved.
According to sources, Saudi authorities have set August 14, 2026, as the deadline for completing the transfer of required funds. However, companies operating under Pakistan’s private Hajj scheme say meeting the deadline may be difficult under the current circumstances.
Reports indicate that Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has allocated 40 percent of the national Hajj quota to the private scheme. However, Hajj organizers have expressed concerns over the requirement that each cluster must accommodate 2,000 pilgrims, arguing that the condition poses operational challenges.
Sources said an initial proposal allocates a total quota of 50,000 pilgrims to 25 clusters, while applications for the remaining 20,000-pilgrim quota are being accepted until August 10. Applicants are also required to have a paid-up capital of Rs300 million.
Hajj organizers claim the new policy could adversely affect several companies that have been providing Hajj services for more than two decades. They allege that some long-established operators have been excluded from the clusters, while several clusters have yet to finalize their partnership structures and director approvals.
They further warned that some private Hajj operators had already transferred funds to Saudi Arabia based on their 2025 quota, but the proposed allocation for the upcoming season could be even lower, potentially creating financial difficulties.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has not yet issued a detailed official response to these claims. Further clarification on quotas, cluster arrangements, and the fund transfer process is expected in the coming days.
