ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry announced on Thursday that the government has started the process of refunding savings from Hajj 2025 back to pilgrims, saying that an amount of Rs3.5 billion [$12.4 million] will be refunded by Oct. 31.
Pakistan’s government offers refunds to Hajj pilgrims from the amount it saves on the cost of the annual Islamic pilgrimage. In a press release, the religious affairs ministry said the refunds will be transferred directly to the pilgrims’ bank accounts via their respective bank branches.
Saudi Arabia granted Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj last year. Typically, this national quota is evenly split between government-run and private schemes.
“The process of refunding the savings from Hajj 2025 has also commenced,” the religious affairs ministry announced. “A total of PKR 3.5 billion ($12.4 million) will be refunded to pilgrims of Hajj 2025.”
The ministry said that the difference in refund amounts is primarily due to variations in accommodation costs in the different zones of Mina and Makkah. It gave a breakdown of the refund numbers:
Around 25% of the total pilgrims, which amount to 21,895, will not get any refund.
A total of 14% of the pilgrims, 12,286, will receive Rs12,000 each [$42.60] while 13,939 pilgrims will receive Rs25,000 [$88.75] each and 10% of the total pilgrims, amounting to 8,496, will receive Rs48,000 [170.4] each.
Around 23% of the total pilgrims, 20,302, will receive Rs75,000 [$266.25] each, 12% of the total pilgrims, 10,945, will receive Rs90,000 [$319.50] each and 408 pilgrims will reach receive Rs110,000 [$390.50] each.
Pakistan has been allocated the same quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026. Of these, around 118,000 seats have been allocated to the government scheme and the rest to private tour operators. The religious affairs ministry noted that this year, an additional quota of 30,000 pilgrims has been issued for the government scheme.
It reminded prospective pilgrims that the second installment of Hajj 2026 must be deposited at the designated banks between Nov. 3-15, adding that each pilgrim will be notified through the official “Pak Hajj” mobile application.
The cost for the Long Hajj Package (40 days) has been set at Rs1,150,000 [$4,094], while the short Hajj package, with a duration of 25 days, will cost pilgrims Rs1,200,000 [$4,272].
