ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to extend the deadline for Hajj applications under the government scheme by 10 days after receiving fewer applications, Religious Affairs Minister Aneeq Ahmed said on Monday.
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry invited Hajj 2024 applications under the government’s scheme from Nov. 27 and had fixed the deadline on Dec. 12.
The quota for Pakistanis performing the annual Islamic pilgrimage under the government’s scheme next year is 89,605 and the pilgrimage is expected to cost Rs1,075,000 [$3,769] per person.
Religious ministry spokesperson Muhammad Umer Butt told Arab News only 34,000 applications have been received so far under the government and sponsorship schemes against a quota of 89,605. The ‘Sponsorship Scheme Hajj’ allows overseas Pakistanis to apply for Hajj or sponsor someone in Pakistan for the journey by paying in US dollars.
“We are extending the duration for Hajj applications by 10 days, both for regular and sponsored applicants,” Ahmed told reporters.
“Despite reducing the Hajj package by Rs. 100,000 ($351.92), we have received fewer applications, which is surprising but can be attributed to the economic situation in the country.”
Ahmed said his ministry was striving to further ease financial burden on pilgrims by negotiating with airline companies to reduce their airfare.
“Any reduction, whether it’s Rs50,000 ($175.96) or more, will be refunded to the pilgrims,” he said, adding that his ministry has already succeeded in bringing down the cost of air tickets by $800-$1,000.
He said the religious ministry had, in a first, used mobile phone ringtones and televised commercials to spread awareness about the Hajj scheme.
“Despite these efforts, the response is low due to prevailing economic conditions,” Ahmed said.
“We are dedicated to providing more relief to the pilgrims, and we believe these efforts will yield positive results,” he said.
Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage that has been in practice for over 1,400 years. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, and requires every adult Muslim to undertake a journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime (if they are financially and physically able).
This year, Saudi Arabia restored Pakistan’s pre-coronavirus Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims and lifted the upper age limit of 65 years to perform the pilgrimage. More than 81,000 Pakistani pilgrims performed Hajj under the government scheme in 2023 while the rest used private tour operators.
