The deadline for the Hajj 2025 application submission is set to expire on Tuesday (today) with the government receiving more than 54,000 applications so far for aspirants who wish to be able to embark on next year’s pilgrimage.
Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt has said that the number of applications was expected to increase further by midnight and that they anticipate that the quota for the government Hajj scheme will be fully subscribed by the end of the day.
The official’s remarks came as the ministry has designated 15 banks to collect applications and dues from Hajj aspirants across the country.
Expanding on Hajj 2025 preparations, Butt further revealed that the Hajj flight schedule will be finalised, with accommodations being secured in Madina in line with the flight itineraries as soon as the application submission process — which commenced on November 18 — culminates.
Meanwhile, the arrangements for accommodation, meals, transportation and logistical services, including Maktab allocations, will be completed in Saudi Arabia, he noted.
The spokesperson — while attributing the surge in applications to the facility of instalment-based payment for Hajj expenses under the regular scheme — urged overseas Pakistanis to ensure their participation in the scheme by sending sponsorship funds no later than December 3.
About 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj under the government scheme next year at a cost of between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000.
The expected expenditure for Hajj 2025, as per Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain, would vary between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000.
A pilgrim will have to submit Rs200,000 along with the Hajj application and deposit Rs400,000 after being selected via balloting, whereas, the remaining payments will be paid by February 10, 2025.
In case of cancellation, the refund of the first instalment will be made after a deduction of Rs50,000, whereas, Rs200,000 will be deducted in case of failure to pay the third instalment and no refunds will be made after February 10, 2025.
Also under the incumbent government’s Hajj policy, the compensation for the heirs of the deceased has been increased from Rs1 million to Rs2 million.
Furthermore, as many as 1,000 seats would be allocated for hardship cases and 300 for labourers and low-income employees registered under the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) or Workers Welfare Fund.
