Hujjaj Muhafiz Scheme: Rs 2,000,000 for a Hajj Death and Rs 250,000 for an Emergency Return, Pakistan
Pakistan's Hujjaj Muhafiz Scheme takes Rs 1,000 from each Hajj pilgrim. See what it pays for death, injury and illness evacuation, and what is unclear.
Short answer: The Hujjaj Muhafiz Scheme is a government cover for Hajj pilgrims. Each pilgrim pays a non-refundable Rs 1,000. If a pilgrim dies during Hajj in Saudi Arabia, the family gets Rs 2,000,000. If illness forces an emergency return before Hajj is done, the pilgrim gets Rs 250,000.
Most pilgrims never hear of this cover until something goes wrong. It matters because a death, injury or sudden illness on Hajj leaves a family with costs at home and in Saudi Arabia.
We read the full Hajj Policy 2027 to 2030 on the Ministry of Religious Affairs website on 13 October 2026. The scheme is in Part IV of that policy. The numbers below come from that document.
The scheme runs on shared contributions
The policy says the ministry "shall continue" the scheme. It began in 2011 as a risk management plan based on Takaful, which is an Islamic form of group cover where members pool money to help each other.
Every Haji and every welfare staff member pays Rs 1,000. The policy calls this amount non-refundable. You pay it once for your Hajj, and you do not get it back if nothing happens.
The ministry may change the scheme. The policy says it can notify changes "considering the changing circumstances", so check the current terms before you travel.
Three events trigger a payout
The policy lists three situations. Only the death and the evacuation payouts have a fixed amount in the policy. Injury payments follow a schedule that sits in a separate guidelines document, which we did not find.
| Event | Compensation | Who receives it |
|---|---|---|
| Death during Hajj in Saudi Arabia | Rs 2,000,000 | The nominees of the pilgrim |
| Major or minor injury | As per a schedule in the Hajj Policy Guidelines | The injured pilgrim |
| Emergency evacuation without performing Hajj, due to illness | Rs 250,000 | The pilgrim |
The policy says compensation goes to "affected Hujjaj or the nominees of deceased Hujjaj". A nominee is the person you name to receive money on your behalf. Check how the ministry records nominees when you register.
What the policy does not tell you
The policy gives the headline amounts but not the process. It does not say how long a claim takes, what papers are needed or where to file. It also does not say whether the Rs 2,000,000 is in addition to other support.
One related fact is in the policy. A pilgrim who dies in Saudi Arabia "shall be interred in Saudi Arabia" under Saudi law. A body is not flown home during Hajj under this policy. Our guide to bringing a body home from abroad covers the general overseas process, but it does not describe the Hajj rule.
Why a small payment matters for large risks
Rs 1,000 is a very small part of a Hajj bill that runs above Rs 1 million. For that small amount, the cover pays Rs 2,000,000 on death, which is more than the cost of the trip itself.
Hajj also carries real physical risk. Crowds, heat and long walks put older pilgrims under strain. The policy itself requires a medical certificate from a registered doctor and bars terminally ill applicants. The scheme sits beside those health rules as a safety net, not a replacement for them.
Steps to protect your family before you go
You cannot claim what you cannot prove, so organise the paper trail before the flight.
- Pay the Rs 1,000 as part of your Hajj dues and keep the receipt.
- Save your Hajj registration number, passport copy and package details in one folder.
- Tell one family member exactly who your nominee is.
- Ask the ministry for the injury schedule in the Hajj Policy Guidelines.
- Give the family the ministry's phone number, +92-51-9207161, and the Pakistan Embassy numbers in our list of embassy emergency numbers in Saudi Arabia.
Do not confuse it with insurance you buy
The scheme is a government pool, not a private insurance policy. A private operator may also offer medical or travel cover. The policy says every private operator must sign a service agreement that covers medical and insurance cover, refund pathways and penalties.
Ask your operator for that cover in writing. Our guide to checking that a Hajj or Umrah agent is licensed explains what to look for first, and the page on Hajj 2027 packages and costs shows what each package price includes.
Common questions
How much does the Hujjaj Muhafiz Scheme pay if a pilgrim dies?
It pays Rs 2,000,000. The policy lists this for death during Hajj in Saudi Arabia, and the money goes to the pilgrim's nominees.
How much does each pilgrim pay into the scheme?
Each pilgrim pays Rs 1,000. The policy says it is non-refundable.
What does the scheme pay for an emergency return due to illness?
It pays Rs 250,000. This applies to a pilgrim evacuated without performing Hajj because of illness.
How much is paid for an injury?
The policy says injury is paid as per a schedule in the Hajj Policy Guidelines. We did not find that schedule, so ask the ministry.
Is the scheme the same as private travel insurance?
No. It is a government pool run on Takaful principles. Private operators sign a separate service agreement that covers medical and insurance cover.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Hajj Policy and Plan 2027 to 2030, Part IV section 3, and the ministry's home page. We could not find the injury schedule, the claim form or the processing time. These amounts come from the policy and the ministry can change them.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
