Pakistan’s 2025 Hajj Policy: Women’s Travel Requires Spousal or Parental Consent
For the upcoming Hajj season, Pakistan has been allocated 179,210 slots
Women in Pakistan will require spousal or parental consent to perform Hajj in 2025, as announced by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
This requirement persists despite a ruling from the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) that allows women to travel without a male guardian (mahram) under certain conditions.
Specifically, women must submit an affidavit confirming their parents’ or husbands’ permission, that they are part of a reliable group of females, and that there is no threat to their dignity during the pilgrimage.
For the upcoming Hajj season, Pakistan has been allocated 179,210 slots, split evenly between the government scheme and private tour operators. This means 89,605 pilgrims will travel under each scheme.
Additionally, the policy stipulates that children under 12 years old will not be allowed to participate in Hajj, in accordance with Saudi regulations. Special provisions are also made for citizens with disabilities and other specific cases.
Pakistani women can now travel alone for Hajj under specific conditions set by the CII, they still need the consent of their husbands or parents to register for the pilgrimage in 2025.
