Key points
- Today is the last day for submitting Hajj applications under the government scheme.
- Applications can be submitted with an initial payment of two-hundred thousand rupees.
- Second installment of four hundred thousand rupees can be submitted within ten days after the balloting.
- The remaining amount must be submitted until 10th of February next year.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has said that today is the last day for submitting Hajj applications under the government scheme.
Pakistan state run news agency, APP reported that the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has received over 72,000 Hajj applications so far.
According to the Ministry, applications can be submitted with an initial payment of two-hundred thousand rupees while second installment of four hundred thousand rupees can be submitted within ten days after the balloting. It added that the remaining amount must be submitted until 10th of February next year.
According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Muhammad Umar Butt, applicants can also join their relatives’ Hajj groups under the scheme for convenience.
Earlier, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony extended the deadline for Hajj application submissions under the government Hajj scheme. The new deadline is December 10, which will expire today while the previous deadline was December 3.
Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain, in a statement, said that all Hajj applications received from November 18 to December 3 have been approved.
“All Hajj applications received from the 18th of the last month till Tuesday have been accepted.”
He said that applications under the Sponsorship Scheme have also been accepted without the need for balloting.
The minister said overseas Pakistanis should deposit the sponsorship fee by December 10.
Under the 2025 Hajj policy, 179,210 Pakistanis would perform Hajj next year. The quota would be divided equally (89,605 each) between the government and private Hajj schemes.
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Out of the government Hajj scheme, at least 5,000 seats would be reserved for the sponsorship scheme.
The schedule of Hajj flights will be finalised after the process of receiving applications is completed. The Hajj expenses would vary between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000.
As per the Hajj policy, 1,000 seats would be allocated for hardship cases and 300 for labourers and low-income employees registered under the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) or Workers Welfare Fund.
The ministry has also launched the “Pak Hajj 2025” mobile application in order to guide and facilitate pilgrims. The application is also available for both Android and iPhone users, according to local media reported.
