The government of Pakistan has opted to prolong the deadline for submitting Hajj applications under the newly introduced ‘Sponsorship Scheme Hajj’ by a week, citing a ‘slow response.’ This initiative reserves 25,000 seats for overseas Pakistanis to apply or sponsor someone’s journey by paying in US dollars, exempting them from the conventional balloting process. However, only 3,161 applications have been received so far, significantly below the allocated quota.
To address this shortfall, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has extended the application deadline to ensure the fulfillment of the designated 25,000-seat quota. Additionally, the ministry has received over 63,000 applications under the regular scheme, prompting a 10-day extension from December 12 to 22.
It’s noteworthy that Saudi Arabia has reinstated Pakistan’s pre-coronavirus Hajj quota to 179,210 pilgrims and removed the upper age limit of 65 years for pilgrimage. This decision provides a larger opportunity for Pakistani citizens to participate in Hajj. The government’s strategic adjustments, including deadline extensions and the sponsorship scheme, aim to facilitate a broader and inclusive participation in the sacred pilgrimage while accommodating changes in response and demand.
