ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will launch a fully digital, end-to-end Hajj management system next year, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced, marking a major step in modernizing one of the country’s largest annual overseas operations.
The announcement followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of IT to digitize and streamline Hajj processes.
Under the new system, the entire pilgrimage journey — from application and documentation to travel, accommodation, and return — will be managed through a unified digital platform. A simplified, user-friendly online Hajj portal will be introduced to facilitate applications and improve transparency.
Minister Khawaja said the system aims to enhance service delivery and administrative efficiency as Pakistan accelerates broader public-sector digitization efforts.
Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said the digital transition would reduce delays and minimize human error, improving operational performance and accountability.
As part of the agreement, authorities will upgrade the existing Pak Hajj mobile application and integrate systems across stakeholders to ensure better coordination and compliance with Saudi Arabia’s regulatory timelines.
Preparations for this year’s Hajj are already underway. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has completed the first phase of a 10-day technical training program for 870 Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj — government facilitators who assist Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. The training includes digital navigation tools, emergency response modules, and crowd management techniques.
More than 179,000 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj this year. Of these, 119,210 pilgrims will travel under the government scheme, while 60,000 will go through private tour operators. The scale of the operation requires extensive coordination across transport, accommodation, health services, and regulatory compliance.
