Despite Saudi Arabia's decision to permit women without a mahram (male guardian), Pakistani women would now need their parents' or husbands' consent to perform the yearly Hajj. On Tuesday, January 7, Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs released a document titled "Hajj Policy 2025," which states that women will not need to perform the Hajj in 2025 if they can provide an affidavit stating that their parents or husbands have given their consent, they are travelling with a group of trustworthy women, and their dignity is not in danger. 

In November 2023, Pakistani women were allowed to perform the Hajj without a mahram by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII). In response to the Religious Affairs Ministry's question, the council stated that, according to the sharia provisions of the Jafria, Maliki, and Shafi'i schools of thought, a woman is guaranteed to undertake the Hajj or Umrah without a mahram as long as she is travelling with a group of reliable women. 

Saudi Arabia said in 2021 that women worldwide are permitted to perform the Hajj and Umrah without the need for a mahram. 

As per a copy of the Haj Policy of 2025 of Pakistan obtained by Wion, children under the age of 12 are not allowed to the religious pilgrims as directed by the Saudi government. 

The document further added that special citizens and disabled people are required to travel with an attendant to perform the pilgrim. 

Furthermore, citizens barred from travelling abroad by any court would not be exempted in the case of Hajj. 

The document added, "a hardship quota of 1000 seats shall be reserved to accommodate split/broken family, mahram for successful ladies, attendants for disabled/special persons and any other hardship need".