The Ministry of Religious Affairs has introduced new rules for Hajj 2025, requiring Pakistani women to obtain permission from their husbands or family members for the pilgrimage.
Under the updated policy, women can travel for Hajj alone but only if they fulfill specific conditions outlined by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII). These include obtaining consent from parents or a husband and being part of a trusted group of female pilgrims to ensure safety and dignity during the journey.
Read more: Hajj Policy 2025: Government Hajj Cost for Pakistanis?
In the past, Pakistani women were not permitted to travel alone for Hajj or Umrah, though Saudi Arabia recently lifted such restrictions as part of broader reforms to enhance women’s rights. Despite this, Pakistan’s new rules maintain certain limitations for female pilgrims.
This year, Saudi Arabia allocated 179,210 Hajj slots to Pakistan, with 89,602 under the government scheme and the rest for private operators. The policy also bans children under 12 from participating and mandates that all pilgrims meet Saudi vaccination requirements.
