ISLAMABAD: Annik Ahmed, caretaker minister for religious affairs, announced the Hajj Policy 2024, reducing the cost of the holy stay by Rs 100,000 compared to the previous year، The News reported Friday.
Unveiling the salient features of Hajj Policy 2024, Ahmed said that the default banks could start receiving applications under the regular scheme from November 27 to December 12.
The minister said that along with the long-term Hajj package of 38 to 42 days, the government has also decided to introduce a short-term package of 20 to 25 days.
He said that under the government scheme, the cost of Hajj has been reduced to Rs. 1075000 for the next Hajj while Rs. 11750000 has been received for this year’s Hajj But it is assured that there will be no compromise on the quality of arrangements regardless of cost reduction.
However, the government will receive Rs. 75,000 as additional amount for the short term package. The Minister said that the cost of Hajj for applicants from the southern part of the country would be Rs. 1065000 and Rs. 75000 would be extra for short term package. Rs. 60,000 will be charged for sacrificial animals.
The Minister of Religious Affairs said that the Hajj quota for Pakistan is 17,9210 and it will be distributed equally among public and private Hajj operators.
Ahmed said talks are underway with airlines to reduce air fares for Hajj operations.
“ If we manage to get relief in airfare, the money will be transferred to the accounts of the pilgrims. ”
He said that if the visitors choose to stay in Madinah for four days instead of eight days, they will get back Rs. 35,000.
As a prominent feature of Hajj policy، In light of the recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), women who do not have eyelashes are allowed to apply for Hajj. However, such women must seek permission from their parents or husbands on the condition that they choose a group of trusted people.
Those who have performed Hajj in the last five years will not be eligible to submit applications. However, a mahram is with a woman who is doing Hajj for the first time and those who apply under the sponsorship scheme will be exempted from the same ban.
Both the government’s regular scheme and the private quota will be 89,605. The government scheme has set a quota of Rs 25,000 for the sponsorship scheme while 50% of the private scheme will be allocated for the sponsorship scheme.
Under the sponsorship scheme, applicants will have to submit expenses on the Foreign Exchange ($ 4,015) and will be given a place on a first-come, first-served basis.
The caretaker minister said that Hajj 2024 will be digitized in which the pilgrims will get a mobile application which can be used without internet. The app will have many features, including the option to file their complaints.
He said that free items would be provided to the pilgrims including a SIM with seven GB of data, a suitcase with QR code، Ahram belts for men include, Abaya for women and shoe bags.
He added that in addition to the airport in Islamabad, Karachi has also been included in the Road to Mecca project and he has also joined Lahore from the Saudi government Requested to add.
Under the plan, Saudi teams check the immigration, security and customs of aspiring visitors before leaving for the country.
