Pakistan has introduced a new initiative aimed at easing the financial burden on low and middle-income citizens planning to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage.
A total of 89,605 pilgrims will be allowed to undertake Hajj, with 5,000 participants benefiting from a sponsorship scheme, while the remaining will go under the regular scheme.
A proposal allowing pilgrims to pay their Hajj expenses in three installments, rather than in one lump sum, has been submitted to the federal cabinet for approval.
According to the details, Hajj costs are between Rs 10.75 lakh and Rs 11.75 lakh, excluding an additional Rs 55,000 for sacrificial animals. Prospective pilgrims would initially need to pay Rs 200,000 to apply for Hajj.
The details included that the pilgrims will have the option to pay Hajj expenses in installments, with Rs 200,000 required at the time of application, and Rs 400,000 within 14 days if selected in the draw. The remaining amount is due between February 1 and February 10, 2025.
Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs have stated that this installment option is specifically designed to make Hajj more accessible for those who struggle to pay the full amount upfront.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs is set to begin accepting applications for the government Hajj scheme under a new policy in mid-November.
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Federal cabinet approves Hajj policy 2025
The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the Hajj Policy for 2025, following recommendations from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony. The approval was given during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Pakistan’s total Hajj quota for 2025 has been set at 179,210, with the quota divided equally between government and private sector arrangements.
As part of the policy, children under the age of 12 will not be allowed to travel for Hajj this year. However, individuals with serious health conditions will be ineligible to participate in Hajj.
To manage the government’s quota, a computerized balloting system will be used, with 1,000 seats reserved for hardship cases and an additional 300 seats allocated to low-income workers registered with the Workers’ Welfare Fund or Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI).
The official package for the pilgrims is anticipated to be priced roughly at Rs 10,75,000 to Rs 11,75,000. The Hajj Policy 2025 also demonstrated the number of quotas allocated for different sectors such as the government and private operators — each receiving a quota of 89,605 pilgrims.Â
In a bid to improve the overall Hajj experience, a new position of “Nazim” will be created to oversee the welfare of pilgrims. One Nazim will be appointed for every 100 pilgrims, selected from the welfare staff, to ensure better support during the pilgrimage.
Additionally, the long Hajj of the next year is anticipated to cover 38 to 42 days and the short Hajj will carry on for 20 to 25 days approximately, during which, children under 12 years old will not be capable of traveling for the pilgrimage.
As for the Road to Makkah facility, it will be delivered at the airports of Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore while women without their mahram are anticipated to be capable of performing Hajj on the terms of the Islamic Ideological Council. Â