Good news for Pakistan Hajj applicants

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has extended the deadline for submitting Hajj applications until December 10, 2024, to accommodate aspiring pilgrims. The previous deadline was set to expire today, December 3.

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, announced that all applications received from November 18 to December 3 have been approved under the government Hajj scheme.

He added that applications under the sponsorship scheme have also been approved without requiring balloting. Overseas Pakistanis are required to submit the sponsorship fee by December 10.

For the 2025 Hajj season, the government has allocated a quota of 179,210 seats for Pakistani pilgrims, with 89,605 seats each for the government and private schemes. Of the government scheme’s quota, 5,000 seats will be reserved for the sponsorship scheme.

Reports indicate that around 70,000 Hajj applications are expected to be received by the extended deadline, and these will be approved without balloting.

However, if the number of applications exceeds the available quota, a balloting process will be held.

Applicants must pay an initial deposit of Rs200,000 along with their application, with a second installment of Rs400,000 due for those whose names are finalized.

The remaining Hajj expenses must be paid by February 10, 2024.

The Ministry’s spokesperson stated that the schedule for Hajj flights will be finalized once the application process is complete.

Hajj expenses for the 2025 season are expected to range between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000.

In line with the new policy, 1,000 seats will be allocated for hardship cases, and 300 seats will be reserved for laborers and low-income employees registered with the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) or the Workers Welfare Fund.