MoRA issues private Hajj 2026 scheme; policy for deceased, ill pilgrims

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) has formally disclosed its policy for pilgrims who are unable to perform Hajj due to serious illness or those deceased before Hajj. The new policy offers clarity and options for affected families. The ministry has also issued policy for private Hajj 2026 scheme.

According to official documents, in the unfortunate event that a registered pilgrim passes away before the pilgrimage, any of their relatives will be allowed to perform Hajj in their place. Similarly, pilgrims who are unable to travel due to medical or other serious reasons may either nominate a substitute or request a refund of their deposited amount.

Also read: Missed Hajj 2026 registration deadline? Govt is offering another chance

The Ministry also said that a valid and verifiable reason must be presented for both substitutions and refunds. In such cases, applicants are required to submit documentary evidence, such as medical reports or death certificates, as proof of the illness or death of the original pilgrim.

Furthermore, the policy mandates the submission of a stamped affidavit on a legal paper clearly stating the reason for the change or withdrawal. Applicants must also provide a copy of the original bank receipt and national identity card along with their request.

60,000 PILGRIMS TO BE SELECTED FOR PRIVATE HAJJ SCHEME

The MoRA has also officially opened applications for the Private Hajj Scheme 2026, giving thousands of aspiring pilgrims an opportunity to secure their place for the upcoming holy journey.

The total quota allocated for the Private Hajj Scheme stands at 60,000 pilgrims, split between 22,097 returning applicants and 37,903 new applicants.

According to official sources, 37,903 new pilgrims will be accommodated under this year’s private scheme. While, 22,097 individuals who were unable to perform Hajj in 2025 have been automatically re-registered and will be given priority status in the application process.

Private Hajj operators have been instructed to submit affidavits confirming the registration of these rollover pilgrims. The Ministry has directed all operators to prioritise these previously registered applicants before accepting new submissions.

Also read: Applications for unregistered Hajj 2026 pilgrims begin today

This announcement follows the recent closure of the Government Hajj Scheme 2026 application window, which saw 118,060 submissions from across the country. The process remained open for 17 days and concluded earlier than usual due to overwhelming public response.

Applications for the government scheme were received both online and through designated banks on a first-come, first-served basis, with options available for both short- and long-duration packages.