ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The interim federal government has announced Hajj Policy 2024 under which the Hajj package for each pilgrim has been reduced by Rs 100,000.
Sharing salient features of the new Hajj policy at a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday, the Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed said that the Hajj cost under the government scheme has been reduced to Rs 1,075,000 for the next Hajj from Rs 1,175,000 of this year’s Hajj.
The minister assured there will be no compromise on the quality of Hajj arrangements regardless of reduction in expenses.
The Minister for Religious Affairs said that the Hajj quota for Pakistan is 179,210 which will be equally distributed between the government and private hajj schemes.
Aneeq Ahmed said that negotiations are continuing with the airlines to get reduced airfare for the Hajj operation. He said that if we succeed in securing relief in the airfare, the amount will be transferred to the accounts of pilgrims.
The minister said that the pilgrims will also get back Rs 35,000 if they choose to stay four instead of eight days in Madina.
Aneeq Ahmad said Hajj 2024 will be digitalized wherein pilgrims will get a mobile application that could be used without internet. The app will have many options including the one of lodging complaints.
The religious affairs minister said that the pilgrims will be provided with many free of cost things including a SIM with seven GB data, a suitcase having QR code, Ihram belts for men, Abaya for women and shoes bags.
Aneeq Ahmad said that the Hajj applications will be received from November 27 and this process will continue till December 12. An advertisement in this regard will soon be published.
The minister also said that apart from Islamabad airport, Karachi has also been included in Road to Makkah project. He said that we have also requested Saudi Arabia to also include Lahore in it.
