Pak Hajj App substitute applicant feature has been launched by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, so that a successful Hajj applicant who cannot travel can nominate a close relative to go in his place. The new digital feature is on the Pak Hajj App and the Hajj digital portal, and it allows for the online submission of requests for substitute Hajj applicants. The change is small, but it matters to families, because a Hajj seat that would have been lost can now stay in the family.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony is the ministry behind the change. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has introduced a new digital feature on the Pak Hajj App and the Hajj digital portal, according to Radio Pakistan. The ministry runs the government Hajj scheme, and it handles the applications, the draw, and the payments for more than 100,000 pilgrims each year. The new feature is part of its move to put more of the Hajj process online, so that pilgrims do not have to visit an office for every step.
The Hajj dues transfer is the key part of the new feature. The Ministry confirmed that the Hajj dues already deposited by the original applicant will be utilized for the substitute pilgrim, so the family does not have to pay twice. The Hajj dues transfer means the money follows the seat, and the substitute pilgrim travels on the payment already made. That matters because the government package costs Rs1.2 million for the standard programme, and a family that had to pay again would find it very hard to send another person.
The close relative substitute rule sets who can take the seat. Under the new initiative, a successful Hajj applicant facing unforeseen circumstances can nominate a close relative as their substitute. The rule is meant for real problems, such as illness, a death in the family, or another reason that makes travel impossible. The applicant submits the request online, and the ministry checks it, so that the seat goes to a genuine family member and not to a stranger.
Radio Pakistan is the source that reported the launch. According to Radio Pakistan, under the new initiative, a successful Hajj applicant facing unforeseen circumstances can nominate a close relative as their substitute. Radio Pakistan is the state broadcaster, and it reports the ministry announcements as they are issued. The report did not give a start date for the feature, but it said the feature is now on the app and the portal, so applicants can use it for the coming Hajj season.
The Hajj digital portal is where the request is made. The feature is on the Pak Hajj App and the Hajj digital portal, and the portal is the website where pilgrims apply, check their status, and pay their dues. The app brings the same services to a phone, and it is the tool most pilgrims now use to follow their application. The substitute request joins the other online services on the portal, and it means a family in a small town can make the request without travelling to Islamabad.
The change fits with the wider Hajj preparations for 2027. Pakistan has been allocated 179,210 pilgrim slots for Hajj 2027, with 107,526 reserved for the government scheme and 71,684 for private operators. The government packages have been set at Rs1.2 million for the standard roughly 40 day programme, and Rs1.3 million for a shorter 20 to 25 day option. The religious affairs minister will attend the Sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah from 8 to 11 November, to discuss arrangements for the 1448 AH Hajj season.
For a family, the new feature removes a painful choice. In the past, a person who won a Hajj seat and then fell ill had to give up the seat, and the family lost both the chance and the money already paid. Now the seat can pass to a close relative, and the money already deposited goes with it. The family still has to prepare the substitute pilgrim, with a passport, vaccinations and travel papers, but the seat and the payment are no longer lost.
The ministry has also been working on other services for pilgrims. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed deeper cooperation on religious affairs, including Hajj and Umrah arrangements, after a meeting between officials from both countries. A focal person is being appointed to speed up and improve facilities for Umrah pilgrims, and the Route to Makkah initiative allows pilgrims to complete some entry formalities in Pakistan before travelling. The substitute feature is one more step in making the journey easier to plan.
In the coming weeks, the items to watch will be how many families use the substitute feature, whether the ministry sets a deadline for substitute requests, and whether the government scheme opens applications soon. Pilgrims should also watch for health requirements, because vaccination rules for Hajj and Umrah have changed in recent months. For now, the Pak Hajj App substitute applicant feature is live, and a Hajj seat that cannot be used by one family member can now pass to another.
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