HBL, through its Islamic banking segment HBL Islamic, has been appointed as the Exclusive Banking Partner for Hajj 2027 in collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony (MoRA), Government of Pakistan. The partnership is aimed at supporting the collection of Hajj dues from intending pilgrims while providing them with digital payment options as the government continues efforts to modernize and simplify the Hajj application and payment process. The arrangement brings together the Ministry’s Hajj administration framework and HBL Islamic’s banking infrastructure and digital payment capabilities to facilitate payments for pilgrims participating in the government’s Hajj programme.
Under the partnership, HBL Islamic will facilitate the collection of Hajj dues from intending pilgrims through an exclusive Shariah-compliant account established by the Ministry of Religious Affairs with HBL Islamic. The dedicated account will serve as the banking channel for collecting payments from applicants, providing a structured mechanism for handling Hajj-related dues. The partnership also places emphasis on digital access, allowing intending pilgrims to make their Hajj payments through digital channels, including the Ministry’s online web portal.
The digital payment arrangement supports the Government of Pakistan’s broader effort to digitalise the Hajj application and payment process end-to-end. By enabling payments through the Ministry’s online portal and HBL Islamic’s banking infrastructure, intending pilgrims will have access to a more digitally integrated process for fulfilling their financial requirements related to Hajj. The arrangement is intended to reduce reliance on traditional payment methods and provide applicants with greater access to electronic payment facilities during the Hajj application process.
HBL Islamic’s extensive banking network and digital payment capabilities will form an important part of the partnership. The bank will work with the Ministry to support the collection process while providing the banking infrastructure required for the Shariah-compliant account and associated payment arrangements. The collaboration is also expected to support the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to simplify and modernize the Hajj application process, particularly as government services increasingly incorporate digital channels for applications and payments.
The agreement was signed in Islamabad in the presence of Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony. Representatives of the Ministry present at the signing included Abrar Ahmad Mirza, Federal Secretary, and Sayyed Abdul Waheed Shah, Joint Secretary Hajj. HBL Islamic was represented by Muhammad Asad Khan, General Manager, Islamic Segment, along with other senior executives of the bank.
The appointment of HBL Islamic as Exclusive Banking Partner for Hajj 2027 establishes a dedicated banking relationship between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the bank for the collection of Hajj dues. The use of a Shariah-compliant account reflects the requirements associated with Islamic banking services, while the availability of digital payment channels provides intending pilgrims with an electronic option for completing their payments.
The partnership also highlights the expanding role of digital banking infrastructure in government-administered services. With the Ministry’s online portal being included as a channel for Hajj payments, the arrangement connects the application process with digital payment facilities, allowing intending pilgrims to complete key financial steps through online channels. HBL Islamic’s banking network will support this process alongside the Ministry’s existing Hajj administration framework.
For Hajj 2027, the collaboration is expected to provide intending pilgrims with access to a dedicated Shariah-compliant payment mechanism while supporting the government’s efforts to make the application and payment process more streamlined. The partnership between HBL Islamic and the Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony therefore combines banking services, digital payment capabilities and the government’s Hajj application infrastructure under a single arrangement for the collection of Hajj dues.
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