ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Religious Affairs Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi on Thursday announced that private Hajj organizers would start bookings for the 2024 pilgrimage from today, Friday.
Saudi Arabia last year restored Pakistan’s pre-pandemic Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims and abolished the upper age limit of 65 years. More than 81,000 Pakistani pilgrims performed Hajj under the government scheme in 2023 while the rest used private tour operators.
Pakistan announced the results of a draw for Hajj 2024 in December 2023, with more than 63,000 applicants selected for the pilgrimage under the government scheme. Remaining candidates will apply through private tour operators.
Addressing a press conference along with Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) Chairman Jamal Khan Tarakai, Vice Chairman Hajji Sanaullah and other representatives, Ashrafi said intending pilgrims in the country and abroad could book through private operators until Feb. 25.
“Ashrafi who is also the chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council expressed optimism about the possibility of extending the application submission deadline by a month through private Hajj organizers’ platform,” the special representative said in a statement.
“Quota allocated to the private Hajj organizers was 89,604 pilgrims, with fifty percent quota of 44,802 pilgrims is reserved for Sponsorship Hajj Scheme.”
Ashrafi urged the government to provide all “possible assistance” to intending overseas Pakistani pilgrims to smoothly remit funds in local financial institutions.
“He proposed that it would be far better if they could be allowed to send their money into the private Hajj organizers’ accounts in Saudi Arabia through International Bank Accounts Numbers (IBAN),” Ashrafi urged.
He said the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony had established a dedicated helpline in collaboration with HOAP for pilgrims.
Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed announced this week that Pakistan was introducing a “short-term Hajj facility” for the first time in the nation’s history, allowing pilgrims a more concize and efficient experience.
“This year’s Hajj would be exemplary for Pakistani pilgrims, offering facilities that were not available in the past,” the religious affairs minister said. “For the first time in the country’s history, a short-term Hajj facility is being provided in Pakistan.”
Previously, the government Hajj scheme ran for 38-42 days, but a shorter package of up to 25 days will also now be available.
Accommodation, meals, and transportation as well as all other basic necessities had been standardized for Hajj 2024, Ahmed said, and pilgrims would be able to use both trains and buses while in Saudi Arabia.
“Every pilgrim would be given a green suit-case containing a QR code to prevent any loss of belongings,” the minister said. “Hajj pilgrims would also be provided with a free SIM containing 180 international calling minutes and 7GB data to facilitate easy communication with their loved-ones.”
For the first time, women would get free abaya shrouds adorned with the Pakistani flag, “contributing to the country’s identity,” he said.
Hajj 2024 training workshops, educational training sessions designed by the government to educate pilgrims about the rituals and procedures of performing the pilgrimage, kicked off in Pakistan this week.
Hajj, a once-in-a-lifetime religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, is expected to run from Jun 14-19 this year.