ISLAMABAD: This year’s Hajj policy has been announced by the federal government in order to take pilgrims to the holy land.
Mufti Abdul Shakoor, Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, has revealed the official details for this year’s Hajj, which will take place in a few months.
Application Deadline
Hajj applications can be submitted from March 16 to March 31, 2023.
Where to Submit Applications
Applications for Hajj can be submitted in any of the country’s 14 designated banks, and the names of pilgrims chosen this year to perform Hajj will be announced in the first week of April. Those who are not selected will receive their money back from the banks within 7 days.
A Hajj pilgrims’ waiting list will also be established, with only 0.5 percent of the official Hajj quota reserved. Applicants must have National Identity Cards and Pakistani Machine-Readable Passports that are valid until December 26, 2023.
Cost of Hajj
Pilgrims in northern Pakistan will be charged Rs1.175 million for Hajj, while those in southern Pakistan will be charged Rs1.165 million, according to the minister, who also stated that Pakistan’s Hajj cost is lower than that of India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
People from the northern region, including Peshawar, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, and Rahim Yar Khan, would spend approximately $4,325 while other pilgrims from the same zone would pay approximately Rs1,175,000.
Hajj in the southern belt would cost approximately Rs1,165,000 (approximately $4,285). The minister emphasized that the cost of Hajj has risen due to rupee depreciation.
Total Number of Pilgrims
Pakistan has a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2023. The Saudi government has restored the number of pilgrims to pre-Covid levels for the first time.
It should be noted that a 50% quota has been set aside for the Sponsorship scheme, which is a special facility provided to Hajj pilgrims seeking foreign exchange from abroad in the religious affairs ministry’s specific dollar account.
Overseas Pakistanis would be exempt from the usual balloting process under the scheme, but deposits of dollars from Pakistan would be prohibited. This service would be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Furthermore, 3% (2,688) of the total seats under the government Hajj scheme will be reserved for hardship cases such as newborns or broken families.
Age Limit
Saudi Arabia’s government has removed the upper age limit of 65 years for Pakistani pilgrims this year.
Need of Mahram
Female pilgrims must be accompanied by a mahram under Hajj policy, but women over the age of 45 are exempt.
Who is Ineligible
Pilgrims who have already performed Hajj in the last five years are ineligible to apply this year for the regular Hajj scheme, but mahram of women performing Hajj for the first time are exempt.
The Hajj will take place in June of this year, and the Saudi government is finalizing the details for the kingdom’s largest religious event.
