Hajj 2026: designated banks to stay open tomorrow for dues collection

ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said designated bank branches will remain open on Saturday to collect the second instalment of Hajj 2026 dues..

According to the SBP, the decision was taken on the request of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.

“All designated branches will remain open on Saturday, 15 November 2025, from 9am to 2:30pm to facilitate Hajj operations,” the SBP said.

The move aims to facilitate applicants wishing to deposit the second instalment of Hajj 2026 dues.

Earlier, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia finalised a formal agreement regarding arrangements and facilities for Hajj 2026.

The agreement was signed in Jeddah by Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Abdulfattah bin Suleiman Al-Mashat and Pakistan’s Federal Secretary for Religious Affairs Dr Syed Atta-ur-Rehman.

The signing ceremony was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki, DG Hajj Jeddah Abdul Wahab Soomro, Director Hajj Makkah Azizullah Khan, Director Hajj Madinah Zia-ur-Rehman, Deputy Secretary Hajj Policy Chaudhry Kashif Hussain, and officials from HOAP, the representative body of private Hajj operators.

Federal Secretary Dr Syed Atta-ur-Rehman had thanked the Saudi government for its hospitality and efforts to facilitate pilgrims. He had said that, as in previous years, Pakistani pilgrims will receive high-standard facilities during Hajj.

He said that Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs is committed to completing all arrangements for both government and private Hajj schemes in a timely and efficient manner, in line with Saudi guidelines.

Earlier, the Ministry of Religious Affairs had announced that all applications for the government’s Hajj Scheme 2026 who had paid first installment dues were successfully accepted.

The religious affairs minister had said that refunds to Hajj 2025 pilgrims have already begun, with Rs3.5 billion being returned to account for cost differences in Mina and Makkah accommodations.