Pilgrims to get Rs100,000 refund after recount

Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain has announced that every Hajj pilgrim will receive Rs100,000 as a refund after the ministry’s ongoing recounting process.

This comes as part of an effort to return funds to pilgrims after calculating surplus expenses from Hajj 2024.

Hajj expenses lower this year

During the National Assembly session on Thursday, the minister shared that Hajj expenses for 2024 were already Rs100,000 less than the previous year. In addition, each pilgrim received a relief of Rs35,000 on airfares, making the pilgrimage more affordable for many.

Chaudhry Salik also noted that, in a shift from previous years, only 600 Moavineen-e-Hujjaj (helpers for pilgrims) were selected this year through an NTS test, compared to 1,400 in the past. This was part of a broader effort to streamline the Hajj process.

In other religious affairs, the minister touched on the declining number of Sikh pilgrims arriving via the Kartarpur Corridor due to restrictions from India. He reassured the assembly that Pakistan has no limits and is fully prepared to welcome up to 5,000 Sikh pilgrims daily.

Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a sacred pilgrimage performed by millions of Muslims every year in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. With refunds and reduced costs, the government aims to make this spiritual journey more accessible.