Govt likely to miss Hajj applications target as deadline draws near

ISLAMABAD – The caretaker government is facing a massive challenge as the number of applicants under the government Hajj scheme falls below the allocated seats.

According to sources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, the government has received around 60,000 applications against the total number of seats which is around 89,000. The government of Saudi Arabia has allocated a total of around 190,000 seats including the ones allocated to the private Hajj organizers.

The poor response on top of the fact that only 3 days are left for applying confirms that the government might not be able to do any balloting for the aspiring pilgrims this year.

To woo the applicants, the government has already extended the deadline for submission of applications from December 12th to December 22nd and has also allowed those who have performed Hajj earlier to apply for the upcoming year’s Hajj.

The relaxation does not seem to appeal to the applicants due to multiple reasons including inflation which has literally brought the masses to its knees in recent months.

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.