Pakistan will allow intending pilgrims to pay their Hajj dues online for the first time, removing the long-standing requirement to queue at bank branches. The Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the facility on Tuesday as registrations for Hajj 2027 passed 150,000 in the opening days of a nationwide digital drive.
The payment system runs through 1LINK, Pakistan's interbank network, and is part of a wider effort to digitize the country's entire Hajj operation. According to the ministry, pilgrims will soon be able to complete every stage of the process, from registration through to final payment, without leaving home.
A fully digital pilgrimage pipeline
"On the instructions of the prime minister, an online payment system for Hajj dues has been developed," the Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement. "Through 1LINK, it will be possible to deposit Hajj dues from home. There will be no need to visit a bank to pay Hajj dues."
The ministry said its online Hajj portal had crossed 150,000 registrations within the first days of the drive, which opened on June 22. It described the milestone as another step toward a more convenient operation, delivered in partnership with the National Information Technology Board.
Registration is now mandatory before any applicant can decide whether to travel under the government scheme or through a private tour operator. The ministry said the digital platform allows pilgrims to track the status of their applications at every step, and confirmed that overseas Pakistanis will be able to register and pay from abroad.
The reforms build on the country's recent Hajj record. Pakistan completed its Hajj 2026 operation last month, under which nearly 179,000 Pakistanis performed the pilgrimage. Preparations for 2027 began soon afterward, in line with Saudi Arabia's push for earlier advance registration across all participating countries.
Part of a broader regional shift
Pakistan's move mirrors a wider trend across the Muslim world toward paperless pilgrimage administration. Saudi Arabia has placed its Nusuk platform at the center of both Hajj and Umrah, requiring digital permits, verified bookings and electronic identification for entry to the holy sites. National Hajj authorities are increasingly expected to plug into this system through their own online portals.
For Pakistani applicants, the practical benefits are immediate. Removing in-person banking steps is intended to cut costs, reduce the risk of fraud by unauthorized agents, and speed up the flow of funds. The ministry framed the change as a measure of "transparency, convenience and modern governance."
Questions remain over the size of Pakistan's allocation. Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has repeatedly asked Saudi authorities to raise the country's quota toward 230,000 pilgrims for 2027, up from the existing 179,210. Riyadh has not yet announced country quotas for the season, and talks are described as ongoing.
What pilgrims should do now
Pilgrims planning for Hajj 2027 should treat early registration as the first essential step. Several practical points follow from the ministry's announcement:
- Register before anything else. Registration is now compulsory and must be completed before choosing a government or private package.
- Check passport validity. The ministry has urged applicants to ensure passports remain valid well into the second half of 2027.
- Use only official channels. Payments should be made through the government's online portal or the Pak Hajj app via 1LINK, not through middlemen.
- Keep records. Save registration numbers and payment confirmations, and use the portal's tracking feature to monitor application status.
- Overseas applicants can act remotely. Pakistanis living abroad can now register and pay without returning home.
As the registration window continues, the ministry says further features will be added to the portal. Pilgrims are advised to follow official announcements closely, as quota decisions, scheme details and final costs for Hajj 2027 are still to be confirmed.