Minimum Hajj cost to exceed Rs1.1m

Govt announces policy for 2025 pilgrimage

ISLAMABAD:

The federal minister for religious affairs has announced the 2025 Hajj policy, with costs under the government scheme now exceeding Rs1.1 million.

Addressing a press conference in the federal capital on Monday, the religious affairs minister, Chaudhry Salik Hussain said applications for Hajj will be received from November 18 to December 3, with the draw scheduled for December 6.

He said Hajj under government scheme is expected to cost between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000, with an additional amount of Rs55,000 to be charged for sacrificial offering.

Regarding pilgrim accommodations, the minister said applicants selecting double-bed and triple-bed options in Makkah will be required to make additional deposits of Rs220,000 and Rs75,000, respectively.

"The pilgrims will get an opportunity to pay for Hajj in installments under the Hajj Scheme 2025.

"The first installment, amounting to Rs200,000, will be deposited along with the Hajj application. The second installment of Rs400,000 will be submitted within ten days of the balloting. The remaining amount will be deposited by February 10, 2025," he said.

Hussain said no deductions will be made if an application is withdrawn before the final submission date.

"However, if the first installment is refunded after the balloting, Rs50,000 will be deducted. Rs200,000 will be deducted if the third installment is not paid."

The minister clarified that no refunds will be issued for the remaining amount after February 10 of the next year.

"However, in the event of the applicant's death, the aforementioned deductions will not be applied."

He said a total of 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj in 2025, with 89,605 seats each respectively allocated under the government and private Hajj schemes.

"5,000 seats will be reserved for the sponsorship scheme under the government Hajj scheme, while 30,000 seats will be allocated to private hajj group organizers for sponsorship.'

The minister clarified that participation in the sponsorship scheme requires sending foreign exchange through official banking channels.

He said the government sponsorship scheme will be available on a first come, first served basis and will not be subject to balloting.

"The foreign exchange collected through the sponsorship scheme will be exclusively used for Hajj-related expenses in Saudi Arabia.

"Under the government Hajj scheme, a pilgrim will be allowed to stay in Saudi Arabia for 38 to 42 days."

According to Saudi regulations, he said, each organized private Hajj group must include at least 2,000 pilgrims.

"Earlier groups used to take only 10, 20, or 100 people, leading to difficulties in securing accommodation upon arrival. Having a group of 2,000 will ensure better allocation of places."