ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the country’s first-ever four-year Hajj Policy and Plan for 2027-2030, aimed at introducing long-term planning, improving operational arrangements and providing enhanced facilities to pilgrims.
The approval was granted at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which also appreciated the Ministry of Religious Affairs for ensuring effective arrangements for this year’s Hajj.
Briefing the cabinet on the new policy, officials said that, unlike previous annual Hajj policies, the newly approved framework would cover a four-year period, enabling authorities to adopt a more structured and sustainable approach towards pilgrimage management.
READ MORE: Cabinet approves new Private Hajj Policy for 2027-2030
Under the policy, comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) and regulatory mechanisms will be developed to ensure smooth implementation.
Officials said amendments could be made whenever required to align the policy with changes in Saudi laws and regulations.
A key feature of the new policy is the introduction of a continuous registration system for prospective pilgrims.
Citizens wishing to perform Hajj will no longer have to register afresh every year. Instead, they will be able to register for any year up to 2030 according to their convenience and requirements.
After registration, a priority-based waiting list will be prepared. The government is also introducing an Islamic principles-based savings scheme to enable prospective pilgrims to gradually set aside funds for the pilgrimage.
The cabinet was informed that the entire Hajj management system was being digitised. The initiative includes digital payment facilities, an online complaints management system and digital monitoring mechanisms to improve transparency, efficiency and accountability.
The policy also sets quotas for the government and private Hajj schemes. Officials said both long-duration and short-duration Hajj programmes would be introduced, while pilgrim training, Takaful arrangements and emergency response mechanisms had also been incorporated into the plan.
The cabinet directed that the appointment of Hajj assistants be carried out through a transparent and merit-based process.
It also instructed that third-party validation of arrangements under both government and private Hajj schemes be ensured to maintain accountability and improve service delivery.
The cabinet also approved a policy for outsourcing the services of the Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre (IHITC) and the Regional Blood Centre (RBC) in Islamabad.
The move is aimed at improving healthcare services by ensuring better management and quality facilities at the two centres.
The Ministry of National Health Services will oversee the outsourcing process in accordance with relevant rules and regulations.
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi briefed the cabinet on the performance of Pakistan Railways, stating that the organisation’s revenue had witnessed significant growth during the last financial year.
According to the briefing, Pakistan Railways’ revenue increased from Rs95 billion in 2024-25 to more than Rs115 billion in 2025-26, reflecting a growth of 24.19 per cent.
Freight revenue rose by more than Rs8 billion, while other revenue streams increased by over Rs7 billion. Revenue generated from railway property and land also increased by more than Rs6 billion, while passenger-related revenue recorded growth of 3.37 per cent.
The cabinet also approved decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee for Legislative Cases (CCLC) during its meeting held on May 19, 2026, and those of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting held on July 2, 2026.
Addressing the cabinet, Prime Minister Sharif said Turkish investors had shown strong interest in investing in Pakistan and expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation, economic relations and investment partnerships between the two countries would continue to expand.
Taking the cabinet into confidence about his recent visit to Turkiye, he said Pakistan and Turkiye would further strengthen cooperation in multiple sectors.
He said that during his visit to Tehran, he represented Pakistan at the funeral ceremony of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and conveyed condolences and solidarity with the people of Iran.
Later, he travelled to Turkiye with members of the federal cabinet, where he participated in a business conference attended by a large number of Turkish investors.
The prime minister said participants were briefed in detail about investment opportunities in Pakistan’s energy sector, privatisation programme, transmission lines, mines and minerals, and other key areas.
He added that he held meetings with leading Turkish business groups and invited them to expand their investment footprint in Pakistan’s energy, mining, minerals, infrastructure and other priority sectors.
Sharif said both countries had made extensive efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and promote investment, expressing confidence that positive outcomes would emerge in the future.
He described his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as productive and constructive, saying it would contribute to further expansion of relations between Pakistan and Turkiye.
The cabinet also paid tribute to the security forces for eliminating 15 militants in Balochistan, and prayers were offered for those who embraced martyrdom.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026