ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will roll out a fully digital, end-to-end Hajj management system next year, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Tuesday, covering the entire process from application to pilgrims’ return home.
The announcement came after the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of IT signed a memorandum of understanding to modernize the country’s Hajj operations.
The initiative forms part of Pakistan’s broader push to digitize public services and streamline administration, particularly for one of its largest annual overseas logistical operations.
“Next year, we will introduce a complete digital system covering the entire Hajj journey from application to return,” Khawaja said. She added that authorities would launch a simple and user-friendly online Hajj portal for applicants.
Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said the digital shift would enhance transparency and operational efficiency.
“The digital system will remove unnecessary delays and reduce human error,” he said.
Under the agreement, authorities will upgrade the existing Pak Hajj mobile application and integrate various systems to strengthen coordination among stakeholders and ensure compliance with Saudi timelines.
Pakistan has already advanced preparations for this year’s Hajj. The Ministry of Religious Affairs said it 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.
Officials said 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, requiring coordination in transport, accommodation, health services and regulatory compliance with Saudi authorities. Of them, 119,210 will travel under the government scheme, while 60,000 will go through private tour operators, according to official data.
