More than 100,000 Pakistanis registered for Hajj 2027 in the first five days of the government's registration drive, the country's Ministry of Religious Affairs said, as preparations gather pace for next year's pilgrimage. The strong early turnout marks the opening phase of Pakistan's Hajj planning, which the ministry says will be managed through a fully paperless, end-to-end digital system.

Strong early turnout

According to the ministry, 107,587 people completed Hajj registration from home during the first five days. Of those, about 85,000 applicants selected the government Hajj scheme, while roughly 22,000 chose the private scheme. The ministry said the online registration process would continue uninterrupted for several more days, and that registrations had carried on through the Muharram holidays.

Pakistan concluded this year's Hajj operation the previous month, under which approximately 179,000 Pakistanis performed the pilgrimage. The ministry said the cost and other operational details for Hajj 2027 would be announced in a second phase of the process.

Who is registering

The early figures offer a snapshot of the applicant pool. The ministry reported that around 63,000 of those registered were men and 44,000 were women, with the majority falling in the 25 to 50 age group. On package choice, 56,000 people opted for the long Hajj package while 51,000 chose the short package.

Registration was spread across the country. The ministry said 51,000 people registered from Punjab, 33,000 from Sindh, 15,000 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2,000 from Balochistan, 5,500 from Islamabad, 600 from Azad Kashmir, and two from Gilgit-Baltistan. The breadth of applications reflects the deep demand for Hajj across Pakistan's provinces and territories.

A paperless operation

The ministry has stressed that the entire Hajj operation will be managed through a paperless, end-to-end digital system developed by Pakistan's National Information Technology Board. The move is intended to speed up processing, reduce errors and allow applicants to complete registration from home rather than travelling to designated centres.

Practical tips

  • Register within the window. Early phases can fill quickly, so intending pilgrims should complete registration as soon as the system opens.
  • Choose your scheme carefully. Weigh the government and private schemes against your budget and service expectations before applying.
  • Keep your passport valid. Ensure your passport remains valid well beyond the expected travel dates to avoid delays.
  • Watch for the cost announcement. Package prices and further details are due in the second phase, so follow official ministry updates.
  • Prepare documents in advance. Have identity records and any required health documents ready to upload to the digital system.

With demand running high in the opening days, prospective pilgrims are advised to follow the Ministry of Religious Affairs for confirmed timelines, costs and the requirements that will apply as the Hajj 2027 process moves into its next stage.