The Religious Affairs Ministry of Pakistan has announced new rules regarding the participation of women in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. These changes will have a direct impact on how women can travel for this sacred journey. According to the new policy, Pakistani women will no longer be able to travel alone for Hajj without permission from their husband or family members. This is a significant update that has caught the attention of many.
The new guidelines state that if a woman wants to go for Hajj alone, she must first get approval from either her parents or her husband, depending on her marital status. This policy has been put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of women traveling for Hajj. The religious authority in Pakistan, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), has recommended that women should travel as part of a trusted group of female pilgrims. This group setup will provide them with safety and dignity during the entire pilgrimage.
Previously, Pakistani women were not allowed to travel alone for Hajj or Umrah. However, these restrictions have been gradually relaxed, especially with the recent reforms in Saudi Arabia that aimed at improving women’s rights. In 2025, these new rules are expected to allow more women to participate, but with the added safeguard of family permission and travel in a group for their protection.
The new policy also includes other important updates. For instance, children under the age of 12 will not be allowed to go for Hajj this year. This change is part of efforts to ensure that only eligible and healthy pilgrims are participating in the sacred journey. Furthermore, all pilgrims are required to meet the vaccination guidelines set by Saudi health authorities. These health measures are essential to ensure the safety of all travelers, given the global health concerns.
In total, the Saudi government has allocated 179,210 Hajj slots to Pakistan for 2025. Out of these, 89,602 pilgrims will travel under the government scheme, while the remaining slots will be filled by private tour operators. These updates reflect the government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and safe pilgrimage for all.
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