More than 13,260 intending Hajj pilgrims have deposited over Rs8.703 billion in Hajj dues through the Hajj Digital Portal since the payment of the first installment for Hajj 2027 began. The payments have been made through multiple channels, including bank cards, OneLink PSID and digital challans, reflecting the government’s ongoing shift towards a fully digital Hajj application and payment process. According to an Hajj update issued on Wednesday, thousands of pilgrims have already completed their financial obligations through electronic and banking channels, while the government continues to facilitate payments through both digital and manual methods.
The payment data shows that 2,006 online transactions have been completed through bank cards, providing pilgrims with an electronic option to deposit their Hajj dues directly through the digital payment system. A further 4,615 transactions were processed through OneLink PSID, giving applicants another digital channel for completing their payments. The government has made these options available alongside manual bank challans, allowing intending pilgrims to select the payment method that best suits their circumstances while the Hajj administration moves towards wider digital adoption.
Habib Bank has also processed a significant portion of the payments. According to the update, 6,761 Hajj pilgrims have deposited their dues through digital challans at Habib Bank. The combined use of bank cards, OneLink PSID and digital challans has enabled more than 13,260 pilgrims to deposit a total exceeding Rs8.7 billion. The payment figures provide an early indication of the level of usage of digital channels under the Hajj 2027 arrangements, particularly as the government works to reduce the need for pilgrims to visit physical offices and banks for completing application-related requirements.
The update also stated that payments for 7,000 pilgrims under the Short Hajj Scheme have been completed. The Short Hajj Scheme is part of the government’s Hajj 2027 arrangements, under which pilgrims have been provided with options designed around different package durations. The government has allocated 107,526 seats for the Hajj 2027 Government Scheme, with the 40-day package priced at Rs1.2 million and the 20 to 25-day package set at Rs1.3 million.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf previously announced that the government had digitalised the Hajj 2027 process end-to-end. The initiative was undertaken on the special directives of the prime minister and with cooperation from the Ministry of Information Technology and the National IT Board. The digital framework is intended to cover the various stages of the Hajj process, including applications, payment of dues and access to other facilities available to pilgrims.
Under the new arrangements, intending Hajj pilgrims can complete their application process from home and make their required payments through digital channels. The government has also introduced the Pak Hajj App and Hajj Portal to provide pilgrims with access to services and information connected with the Hajj process. The digital system is designed to bring multiple stages of the process together, reducing the requirement for applicants to physically visit government offices or banks.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has said that reducing queues, unnecessary travel expenses and waiting times for pilgrims remains a key priority. The expansion of online payment facilities through bank cards and OneLink PSID, along with digital challan services, forms part of this effort. By providing several payment channels, the government is seeking to make the financial component of the Hajj application process more accessible while maintaining banking options for applicants who prefer established payment methods.
The latest payment figures also underline the growing role of digital banking infrastructure in government service delivery. With more than Rs8.7 billion already deposited through various channels and thousands of transactions completed electronically, the Hajj 2027 process represents a major application of digital payment systems to a large-scale public service. The continued use of the Hajj Digital Portal, Pak Hajj App, OneLink PSID and bank-based digital services is expected to support the government’s broader objective of completing the Hajj administration process through integrated digital channels.
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