Islamabad (Imtisal Bukhari) :
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has instructed all 118,060 applicants under the government Hajj 2026 scheme to download the Pak Hajj Mobile App 2026 without fail. Through this app, applicants will receive all future instructions and updates related to Hajj, according to ministry spokesperson Omar Butt in an exclusive interview with Capital News Point on Thursday.
He stated that the app will serve as the primary communication tool for Hajj training, vaccination schedules, and other essential information. Moreover, applicants can use the app to request corrections in their submitted data and directly ask the ministry any queries regarding Hajj 2026.
In response to a question, Omar Butt confirmed that the collection of the second installment of Hajj expenses will begin from November 1. He clarified that under the official Hajj package, applicants will not be allowed to arrange private sacrificial animals. All sacrifices must be made through designated Saudi banks, and the cost of the sacrifice has already been included in the total estimated Hajj expenses shared with the applicants.
Addressing the private Hajj scheme, he advised intending pilgrims to only engage with licensed Hajj operators. A complete list of approved Hajj companies is available on the ministry’s official website.
He also noted that optional facilities will be available in Makkah only and will be provided subject to availability. Charges for these additional services will be collected along with the second installment.
Regarding Umrah pilgrims, Omar Butt emphasized that bookings should only be made through ministry-approved companies. Pilgrims must sign written agreements detailing the promised services and ensure that all payments are made strictly through banking channels into the official company accounts. The list of verified Umrah companies has also been uploaded on the ministry’s website.
