Balloting for govt Hajj scheme today

ISLAMABAD – The caretaker regime is set to conduct balloting for the upcoming year’s Hajj for those who had opted for the regular Hajj scheme.

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Aneeq Ahmed would conduct the draw at 4 P.M. on Thursday and the successful pilgrims would be selected from over 66,000 applicants.

The government had refused to extend the deadline for the submission of applications under the regular Hajj scheme beyond December 22nd but extended the application submission deadline for those applying under the Sponsorship Scheme till December 31st.

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.

The total number of seats allocated to Pakistan by the government of Saudi Arabia this time hovers around 180,000 and the Saudi authorities have also sought the schedule of Hajj flights to streamline the operations.

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.