# Interest-free Hajj savings plan approved by PM Shehbaz: save in instalments through National Savings

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/pakistan/interest-free-hajj-savings-plan-approved-by-pm-shehbaz-save-in-instalments)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 11 Oct 2026
Updated: 11 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 11 Oct 2026

> The Religious Affairs and Finance ministries and the Central Directorate of National Savings will run a Shariah-compliant scheme for would-be pilgrims. How to apply and the savings period are still to be announced.

**Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved an interest-free Hajj savings scheme** that will let Pakistanis put money aside regularly for the pilgrimage, [ProPakistani reported](https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/10/pakistanis-to-get-interest-free-hajj-savings-scheme-for-pilgrims/) on 10 October. The plan is described as Shariah-compliant and was proposed jointly by the **Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony**, the **Ministry of Finance** and the **Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS)**.

## What is known

- **Approval:** signed off by the Prime Minister.
- **Who runs it:** the three bodies above, with National Savings as the savings arm.
- **How it works:** intending pilgrims deposit money over time towards the cost of Hajj, rather than paying in one or two large instalments in the months before the flight.
- **Next step:** Religious Affairs Secretary **Abrar Ahmed Mirza** chaired a meeting on Friday with officials from Finance, CDNS and the ministry's Hajj wing to work out the details.

## What is not known yet

An official told ProPakistani that the following will be announced later:

- how to apply and who is eligible;
- how long you must save;
- the minimum or monthly deposit;
- digital services, such as saving through an app.

There is no start date. Until the scheme opens, nobody can take deposits for it, so treat any agent or caller offering a place in it as a fraud.

## Why it matters

Government Hajj is paid in large instalments in the months before departure. Saving monthly over several years spreads that cost, and doing it without interest answers the main reason many families avoid ordinary savings accounts for Hajj money. National Savings already runs Shariah-compliant products, and its current profit rates are in our [National Savings guide](/guides/banking/national-savings-profit-rates).

## If you are going in 2027

Pilgrims on the 2027 government scheme still pay the normal way: the second instalment is due by **20 October** through the Pak Hajj app, as we explained in [Hajj 2027 second instalment](/news/pakistan/pak-hajj-app-adds-room-change-refunds-and-medical-certificate-for-hajj-2027). Planning further ahead? Work out how a monthly deposit grows with our [National Savings calculator](/tools/finance/national-savings-calculator), and check the riyal rate on the [Saudi riyal page](/data/sar-pkr).

## Frequently asked questions

**How do I apply for the Hajj savings scheme?**

The application process, eligibility and savings period have not been announced yet. The scheme will be run by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Directorate of National Savings.

**Is the Hajj savings scheme interest-free?**

Yes. It has been approved as a Shariah-compliant, interest-free savings plan for people intending to perform Hajj.

## Sources

- Pakistanis to Get Interest-Free Hajj Savings Scheme for Pilgrims (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/10/pakistanis-to-get-interest-free-hajj-savings-scheme-for-pilgrims/

How to cite: "Interest-free Hajj savings plan approved by PM Shehbaz: save in instalments through National Savings", Searchable, 11 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/pakistan/interest-free-hajj-savings-plan-approved-by-pm-shehbaz-save-in-instalments