ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will continue receiving Hajj applications for the remaining 3,500 seats under the government scheme, the religious affairs ministry said on Monday, hours after the expiry of a deadline.
The country announced earlier this month it has been allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims, of which around 118,000 seats have been allocated under the government scheme and the rest to private tour operators.
The religious affairs ministry said it has received 114,500 applications under the government scheme since Aug. 4 and will continue to accept applications for the remaining 3,500 seats.
“Aspiring applicants should submit their Hajj applications to the nearest bank as soon as possible,” the ministry said on Monday night. “The receiving of applications will be stopped as soon as the remaining 3,500 seats are filled.”
The South Asian country, which extended the deadline for receiving Hajj applications under the government scheme on Saturday, has designated 14 banks to receive Hajj applications. Intending pilgrims can also apply through the online Hajj portal of the ministry.
Under the government scheme, pilgrims can choose between a long package (38-42 days) and a short package (20-25 days), with costs ranging between Rs1,150,000 and Rs1,250,000 ($4,050–4,236).
Applicants are required to deposit a first installment of Rs500,000 [$1764] or Rs550,000 [$1941] depending on the package, while the remaining dues will be collected in November.
Saudi Arabia had approved the same quota for Pakistan in 2025, though private tour operators last year struggled to utilize their share, saying they faced technical and financial delays, even as the government filled its quota of over 88,000 pilgrims.
