ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs has given private Hajj operators a three-day deadline to activate their Hajj 2027 packages, warning that their allocated quota could be seized if they fail to comply.
According to reports, bookings under the government Hajj scheme for 2027 have been completed, while the quota allocated to private Hajj operators remains largely unused.
The ministry has directed private Hajj operators participating in the Hajj 2027 private scheme to activate their packages within three days. The deadline has been set for August 31, sources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs said.
In a letter addressed to Hajj organising companies, the ministry instructed operators to activate package categories according to their respective allocated quotas.
The ministry warned that failure to comply could result in the seizure of the companies’ Hajj quota. The unused quota could subsequently be allocated to other Hajj companies or transferred to the government scheme, according to the letter.
All private Hajj packages must be activated on the ministry’s Hajj Management System. Under the new arrangement, pilgrims will also be able to select private Hajj packages through the ministry’s official website.
Sources said more than 71,000 seats have been allocated to private Hajj operators. However, only 54 bookings have been made against the private quota during the first five days, accounting for just 0.1 percent of the allocated quota.
This leaves around 99.9 percent of the private Hajj quota unutilised, with the deadline rapidly approaching. Sources said strict action could be taken against operators who fail to activate their packages within the stipulated three-day period.
Collection of payments under the private Hajj scheme began on August 23, while Hajj expenses are currently being collected for seats covering 40 percent of the private scheme’s allocated quota.
