ISLAMABAD: As the deadline to accept applications for the regular Hajj scheme expires today, Friday, Pakistan’s religion ministry announced it would hold a draw to select successful applicants next Thursday, Dec. 28.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony (MoRA) announced earlier this month extended the deadline for Hajj applications till Dec. 22 as it had not received an adequate number of applications by Dec. 12, the initial deadline.
The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage that requires every Muslim adult to undertake a journey to the holy sites in Makkah at least once in their life, if they are physically and financially capable to do so. MoRA holds a ballot every year to select the successful Hajj applications from the lot.
“A draw for the regular Hajj scheme will be held on Dec. 28,” the ministry said in a statement it shared on social media platform X.
“Till Friday prayers today, banks received over 66,000 Hajj applications under the regular scheme.”
The ministry said it had received more applications than the required quota for the regular Hajj scheme.
MoRA further said that the last date for submitting the applications for the Hajj sponsorship scheme had been extended to Dec. 31.
“Overseas Pakistanis can deposit Hajj fees in dollars for themselves or their loved ones till the end of this month,” the statement added.
The ministry said that the Saudi Aviation authority has instructed airlines to submit their Hajj flight schedules by Jan. 2, 2024, to ensure seamless operation of flights.
The Hajj sponsorship scheme was introduced by the government this year, allowing overseas Pakistanis to apply for Hajj or sponsor someone in Pakistan for the journey by paying in US dollars. In return, applicants would not have to participate in the balloting process for the pilgrimage.
However, the scheme could only attract 7,000 applications against a total quota of 44,000. The numbers were a setback for Pakistan as the South Asian country hoped to generate $194 million from the scheme out of the total $284 million required for its 2023 Hajj operation.
Saudi Arabia restored Pakistan’s pre-coronavirus Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year 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.
