The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has announced an extension in the deadline for submission of Hajj applications under the government Hajj scheme until December 10, 2024. The decision was communicated by Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Tuesday, as the original deadline of December 3 approached its conclusion.
In a statement, the minister confirmed that all Hajj applications received between November 18 and December 3 have been approved without any balloting, providing clarity and reassurance to applicants. He also announced that applications under the sponsorship scheme have been accepted in full without requiring a lottery process. The ministry urged overseas Pakistanis to deposit their sponsorship fees by December 10 to ensure their inclusion.
Details of the 2025 Hajj Policy
Under the 2025 Hajj policy, a total of 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj next year. The quota is equally divided between the government and private Hajj schemes, with each scheme receiving an allocation of 89,605 pilgrims. Within the government scheme, 5,000 seats are reserved exclusively for the sponsorship category.
The minister also mentioned that the government anticipates receiving 70,000 Hajj applications by the end of December 3, all of which would be approved without balloting. However, applications submitted after this date may require a balloting process if the quota is exceeded.
Applicants are required to deposit an initial payment of Rs200,000 along with their applications. Those whose names are finalized will submit a second installment of Rs400,000. The remaining Hajj expenses will be due by February 10, 2024. The total cost of performing Hajj under the government scheme is estimated to range between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000, depending on various factors.
Reserved Quotas
The Hajj policy includes specific quotas for special categories. A total of 1,000 seats have been allocated for hardship cases, and 300 seats have been reserved for low-income laborers and employees registered under the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) or the Workers Welfare Fund.
Next Steps
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that the schedule for Hajj flights will be finalized once the application process is completed. The extension in the application deadline reflects the ministry’s commitment to accommodating the maximum number of intending pilgrims under a transparent and efficient process.
This policy aims to ensure greater inclusivity and ease for Pakistani pilgrims, while also promoting fair allocation of seats in both government and private Hajj schemes.
