Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Ministry said on Tuesday that women pilgrims must still get permission from their parents or spouses in order to perform the Hajj, maintaining traditional requirements despite recent changes in Saudi Arabia’s policies.
The 2025 Hajj Policy documents states that women who wish to perform the pilgrimage must fulfil certain requirements that are set forth by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII). According to the policy, married women must obtain their husbands’ approval before travelling, while single women must obtain their parents’ approval.
Additional Conditions in Haj Guidelines for Women Pilgrims
The CII during its session held on June 6-7, 2023 established new guidelines for women who are travelling without a mehram (male guardian). These consist of :
- Mandatory affiliation with a group of trustworthy female pilgrims.
- Absence of any possible dangers to their dignity.
Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Guidelines for Women Pilgrims in Contrast
Saudi Arabia’s 2021 policy changes, which had remove limitations on women travelling alone for the Hajj and Umrah, contrasts with Pakistan’s criteria. This Saudi reform was a component of Broader initiatives to enhance women’s rights within the kingdom.
General Hajj Quota under the New Guidelines
Pakistan has been allocated a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj season. The distribution is hereby:
- 89,602 pilgrims will be under government schemes
- remaining quota will be allotted to private travel companies
Hajj Guidelines’ Age and Health Requirements
The document of Ministry also outlined the following general requirements for pilgrims:
- Age restriction: Children under the age of twelve are not allowed to perform the Hajj.
- Health requirement: Mandatory immunization with Saudi Arabia-approved vaccines.
Historical Background of Hajj Guidelines for Women Pilgrims
This strategy which maintains traditional requirements while adjusting to changing regional policies marks a significant moment in Pakistan’s Hajj administration. Previously, Pakistani women were uniformly restricted from traveling to Saudi Arabia alone for pilgrimage purposes.
In light of Saudi Arabia’s recent modifications in Pilgrimage regulations, the new guidelines aim to balance religious and cultural considerations with evolving international standards.
With both government and commercial operators getting ready to accommodate pilgrims under these revised standards, the ministry’s announcement coincides with the start of the Haj season preparations.