Guide · 8 minute read

How to save for a wedding, Hajj or Umrah

By Muhammad Ishaq · Last updated: 6 November 2026

A wedding, Hajj or Umrah is one of the biggest costs most families in Pakistan ever plan for. Too often, the money comes from a loan, a rushed committee or selling gold at the last minute.

A steady plan works better. Choose a target, divide it into monthly amounts, keep the money somewhere safe that earns a little profit, and look for ways to bring the total down. This guide shows how, step by step.

Monthly savings at a glance

How much to save each month to reach three example targets:

Goal	Target	Time	Monthly, no profit	Monthly, with profit (our calculation)
Hajj (government scheme, 40-day package for 2027)	Rs 12,00,000	24 months	Rs 50,000	about Rs 45,000
Umrah (example)	Rs 4,00,000	18 months	Rs 22,200	about Rs 20,500
Wedding (example)	Rs 15,00,000	24 months	Rs 62,500	about Rs 56,200

The Hajj figure is the government scheme price for 2027 reported by Business Recorder in August 2026. The Umrah and wedding targets are examples only, because costs vary widely with the package, the season and the family. "With profit" assumes 10% a year before tax, the National Savings Account rate from 21 October 2026, with profit added monthly (our calculation). Tax is deducted from the profit, so in practice you need to save a little more. Rates change, so this is not a promise of future returns.

Step 1: set a realistic target

Hajj

The Ministry of Religious Affairs sets the price of the government Hajj scheme each year. For Hajj 2027, Business Recorder reported in August 2026 a price of Rs 1.2 million for the 40-day package and Rs 1.3 million for the 20 to 25-day package. Applicants paid 50% with the application from 17 August 2026, and Express Tribune reported a second-instalment deadline of 5 to 20 October 2026; missing it cancels the application.

So if you plan for a future year, have most of the money ready by the summer before Hajj, not by Hajj itself. Private packages cost more and vary by operator.

Umrah

Umrah has no official price. Add up the visa, return flights, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, transport and food. Fares are usually higher in Ramazan and school holidays, so get two or three quotes for the dates you want.

Wedding

List every event and cost: venue, food, clothes, jewellery, gifts, photography, transport and the cost of hosting relatives. Agree the total as a family before anyone books anything.

Allow for rising prices

Prices rose 9.6% in the year to October 2026, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. If a Rs 12 lakh cost rose 7.05% a year (the 2025-26 average), it would be about Rs 13.75 lakh in two years (our calculation). Add a margin of 10% to 15% to any goal more than a year away.

Step 2: work out the monthly amount

The basic sum is simple: target ÷ months left = monthly saving.

For example, Rs 4,00,000 for Umrah in 18 months is about Rs 22,200 a month. If that is too much, you have three choices: save for longer, lower the target, or find extra income. Write the number down and treat it like a bill you pay on payday.

Not sure what you can afford? Our monthly budget plan for any salary in Pakistan shows what a realistic savings line looks like at different incomes.

Step 3: use a sinking fund

A sinking fund is money set aside each month for one known cost. Keep each goal in its own account or clearly labelled pot, so wedding money isn't spent on a fridge repair.

One goal, one pot. A separate savings account, certificate or wallet for each big goal.
Automate it. Ask your bank for a standing instruction to move the amount on payday.
Keep your emergency fund separate. If a medical bill comes, it shouldn't wipe out the Hajj fund. See our emergency fund guide.
Add windfalls. Put part of every bonus, Eidi or increment into the fund.

Step 4: decide where to keep the money

For a goal one to three years away, safety and easy access matter more than high returns. The common options:

A bank savings account. SBP requires banks to pay a minimum profit rate on rupee savings accounts, linked to SBP's floor (overnight repo) rate. With the floor rate at 11% from 27 October 2026, the minimum is 10.5% a year from 1 November 2026, for individuals with an average monthly balance of up to Rs 10 million (our calculation). SBP's policy rate is 12% from 27 October 2026. Deposits are protected up to Rs 10 lakh per depositor per bank by the Deposit Protection Corporation.
National Savings. From 21 October 2026, the National Savings Account pays 10%, and Short Term Savings Certificates pay 11.12% for 3 months, 11.50% for 6 months and 11.72% for 1 year. The Sarwa Islamic Savings Account pays 11.84%. Certificates may have rules for early withdrawal, so check with National Savings first.
A committee. No profit, but an early turn can bring the money forward. Read the risks in our guide to committees, bank savings and National Savings.
Gold. Many families save in gold. Its price can fall as well as rise, and buying and selling has costs, so it suits money you won't need on a fixed date.

Tax: tax is deducted from bank and National Savings profit automatically. The rate depends on whether you're on FBR's Active Taxpayer List: non-filers pay double. Check FBR's current withholding tax card for the exact rate.

Zakat: banks deduct zakat on 1 Ramazan from savings accounts at or above the nisab, which was set at Rs 5,03,529 for the zakat year 1446-47 (2026). Savings for Hajj or a wedding still count. Ask a scholar how zakat applies to you.

Step 5: bring the total cost down

Wedding

Agree a guest list and a budget before booking the hall, and stick to both.
Combine events, such as mehndi and mayun, or hold one at home.
Choose a weekday or an off-season date, when halls may offer a lower price.
Rent or reuse outfits, and buy jewellery by weight rather than heavy designs that carry high making charges.

Hajj and Umrah

Apply for the government scheme early and follow the Ministry's dates exactly.
For Umrah, compare packages for the same dates and check what each includes: hotel distance from the Haram, meals and transport.
Travel outside Ramazan and school holidays if you can.
Pay only registered operators and keep every receipt.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Hajj cost from Pakistan in 2027?

Business Recorder reported in August 2026 that the government scheme for Hajj 2027 costs Rs 1.2 million for the 40-day package and Rs 1.3 million for the 20 to 25-day package. Private packages cost more. Check the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the final figures.

How much should I save each month for Hajj?

Divide the package price by the months you have. Rs 1.2 million over 24 months is Rs 50,000 a month, or about Rs 45,000 if the money earns 10% a year before tax (our calculation). Remember that half is paid with the application.

Where should I keep money for a wedding or Hajj?

Somewhere safe that you can reach on time: a separate bank savings account or a National Savings account or certificate. A committee can bring the money forward but earns no profit and depends on every member paying.

How can I reduce wedding costs in Pakistan?

Agree the guest list and total budget first, combine events, choose an off-season or weekday date, rent or reuse outfits, and save for the wedding in a separate pot so the cost doesn't end up on loans or credit cards.

Is zakat deducted from my Hajj savings?

Banks deduct zakat on 1 Ramazan from savings accounts with a balance at or above the nisab, set at Rs 503,529 for the zakat year 1446-47. Savings for Hajj are usually counted. Ask a scholar about your situation.

Related guides

Sources

This guide is for general education only. It is not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are examples or general guidelines; check what applies to you.