Extra 5,000 Hajj slots available for late applicants under government scheme

Hajj slots will be available next week for those who missed the initial deadline.

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The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that late applicants for Hajj can submit their applications next week, with 5,000 remaining slots available under the government’s Hajj scheme.

According to sources within the ministry, applications will be accepted for the remaining quota of 5,000 slots, Express News reported.

However, this time, there will be no lottery system. Instead, Hajj tickets will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The ministry has proposed a five-day window for submitting new applications, with the exact dates expected to be confirmed soon.

Earlier, a total of 81,500 Hajj applications were received under the government’s scheme, but the remaining slots were left for late applicants.

These additional 5,000 spots offer a second chance for those who missed the initial deadline to undertake the religious pilgrimage.

Moreover, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that private group bookings for Hajj 2025 will begin on January 10.

In a video statement, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi stated that private Hajj bookings will commence from tomorrow after the settlement of the matters.

He added that the Pakistani government will work to improve arrangements for the government quota and private Hajj pilgrims.

Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi also emphasised that adherence to Saudi Arabian and Pakistani laws is mandatory.

It is worth mentioning that Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, chaired a meeting on this matter yesterday, which was attended by the head of Pakistan Ulema Council, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Secretary of Religious Affairs Zulfiqar Haider, and Chairman of HOAP Nasser Khan.

Earlier, it was announced women seeking to perform Hajj without a male guardian (mahram) would require permission from their husbands or parents, according to a statement from the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Tuesday.