ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has received 27,376 Hajj applications through banks in the past three days, state media said, as the process of submitting forms through 14 banks for a government Hajj scheme continues.
After a hiatus of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia this year announced holding the annual Hajj pilgrimage for all Muslims across the globe.
Pakistan will be sending 81,132 pilgrims for this year’s Hajj, with 60 percent of the quota allocated to private Hajj operators. The maximum age limit for pilgrims this year is 65.
Last month, the Pakistan government announced people willing to perform Hajj this year could submit online applications from May 1 to 13, with token money of Rs50,000 ($270).
State-run news agency APP quoted Joint Secretary Hajj Usman Sarosh Alvi as saying on Wednesday that the ministry would announce mandatory Hajj expenses after getting final details from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which had not yet provided the requirements.
Religious Affairs Ministry’s Spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt told APP the ministry had relaxed some rules in a bid to facilitate pilgrims.
“Pilgrims whose passports were not valid till January 5, 2023 could also submit Hajj applications on the tokens provided by the Passport Office for their passports’ renewal, provided they must submit the new passports by May 18, 2022. Otherwise, it would be considered a failure,” Butt said. “Other applicants were required to submit their passports along with the Hajj applications in designated branches of the schedule banks.”
“Overseas Pakistanis could also apply for Hajj on the photocopies of passports and National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis valid till January 5, 2023, provided that they must send a request for booking in the last Hajj flights to the ministry through their banks and take full responsibility if their visas were declined in case of late submission of the passports. It was mandatory for them to provide their original passports before Zul Qadah 20,” Butt added.
