Hajj 2024: Sponsorship Scheme fails to attract overseas Pakistanis as deadline nears

ISLAMABAD – The Sponsorship Scheme devised for overseas Pakistanis to perform Hajj has failed to attract a sizeable number of applicants, sending shockwaves across the power corridors of the country.

The government had launched the scheme last year to attract foreign currency as the amount for the Hajj had to be deposited in US Dollars; however, the scheme has failed to attract overseas Pakistanis who have not shown much interest in the scheme.

The government has not revealed official figures but media reports say that less than 3,000 applications have been received under the Sponsorship Scheme though the quota available to the government is over 20,000 seats under the scheme.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has also written to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis to inform the Pakistanis living abroad about the Hajj application filing process under the Sponsorship Scheme.

Moreover, the ministry has also decided to seek the assistance of the Ministry of Information in this regard as the number of applications falls way below the seats available for upcoming year. The government has already extended the deadline for submission of applications from December 12th to December 22nd.

As far as the details for Hajj 2024 are concerned, the government has introduced a short Hajj package, ensuring completion within 25 days. Priced at Rs 80, 000 more than the Long Hajj package, the cost for Short Hajj stands at Rs 1,140, 000 for individuals from the southern region(Burewala, Bhakkar, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Jhang, and Dera Ghazi Khan) and Rs 1,150, 000 for those from the northern areas (Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan, Gilgit, Chilas, Passu and Karimabad).

For the Long Hajj package, pilgrims will have an extended journey lasting up to 42 days, with eight of those days spent in Medinah. Departing from southern parts like Karachi, Quetta, and Sukkur, the cost of this experience is Rs 1,065,000. For those departing from the northern parts (Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan, Gilgit, Chilas, Passu, and Karimabad) the cost is slightly higher at Rs 1,075, 000.

Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, obligatory for all Muslims who can afford it. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Pilgrims perform a series of rituals, symbolizing unity, equality, and spiritual cleansing.