The Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony has announced that Pakistani citizens who wish to perform Hajj in 2023 can still apply for the pilgrimage through the government Hajj scheme. The application form is available on the Ministry’s website, and those interested can submit their applications to the Section Officer Hajj policy either in person or through mail. The applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and successful applicants are required to submit their documents and dues to the designated banks.
The government has reserved a 50% quota for the Sponsorship Scheme, which provides a special facility for Hajj pilgrims seeking foreign exchange from abroad in the specific dollar account of the religious affairs ministry. The expenses for this year’s Hajj have been set at Rs1.175 million per pilgrim, a 68% increase from last year’s expenses.
The pandemic restrictions have been lifted, and Saudi Arabia will be welcoming about 2.3 million pilgrims for this year’s Hajj. The departure for pilgrims is expected by June 20th or 21st. In the 2022 Hajj season, one million people participated, and only those between the ages of 18 and 65 who were fully vaccinated or immunized against the virus and did not suffer from chronic diseases were allowed to visit the kingdom.
Despite the deadline for applications ending a few weeks ago, seats for a limited number of applicants are still available, as announced by the Ministry. Hajj is a pilgrimage that Muslims are obligated to perform at least once in their lifetime, provided they have the financial means and are physically able to make the journey.
