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Hajj Application Deadline
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has made an important move by extending the application period from December 12th to December 22nd, introducing the Hajj Application Deadline for 2024. This choice is in line with a worrying trend: barely 34,000 applications were submitted for the 89,605 pilgrims allotted. Aneeq Ahmed, the Minister of Religious Affairs, emphasised this problem by pointing out how few people are interested in doing the Hajj Application Deadline this year. Minister Ahmed also emphasised the ‘Sponsorship Scheme Hajj,’ which aims to allow foreign Pakistanis to either apply for Hajj or sponsor someone in Pakistan for this holy journey by giving in US dollars. Each pilgrim is expected to face a fee of Rs1,075,000 (about $3,769).
The Ministry has reduced the Hajj package by Rs. 100,000 ($351.92), yet the number of applicants is still lower than anticipated. Minister Ahmed assured reporters that any decrease in price will be returned to the pilgrims and ascribed this unexpected tendency to the nation’s current economic circumstances. As one of the five pillars of Islam and an annual Islamic pilgrimage with over 1,400 years of history, the Hajj Application Deadline is extremely significant.
The significance of the pilgrimage is further demonstrated by Saudi Arabia’s decision to lift the upper age limit of 65 years old and restore Pakistan’s pre-coronavirus Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year. More than 81,000 pilgrims from Pakistan used the government programme in 2023; others went with commercial tour companies. The Ministry’s response, in spite of these steps, illustrates the Hajj pilgrimage’s lasting significance as well as the continuous difficulties in guaranteeing its accessibility and participation.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced an extension for the Hajj application deadline for the year 2024, moving it from the initial date of December 12th to the new deadline of December 22nd. The decision comes as a response to the less response, with a limited 34,000 applications received for the allocated quota of 89,605.
Religious Affairs Minister Aneeq Ahmed shared the statistics on Monday, emphasizing the significantly few interest in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. He revealed that the expected cost for each pilgrim is set at Rs1,075,000 (approximately $3,769). Minister Ahmed also highlighted the ‘Sponsorship Scheme Hajj,’ allowing overseas Pakistanis to either apply for Hajj or sponsor someone in Pakistan for the sacred journey by contributing in US dollars.
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Despite a reduction of Rs. 100,000 ($351.92) in the Hajj package, the ministry noted a lower-than-expected number of applications. Minister Ahmed addressed this surprising trend, attributing it to the prevailing economic conditions in the country. He assured reporters that any reduction in the cost, whether it’s Rs50,000 ($175.96) or more, would be refunded to the pilgrims.
Hajj Application Deadline, an annual Islamic pilgrimage, holds a rich tradition spanning over 1,400 years and is one of the five pillars of Islam. This year, Saudi Arabia reinstated Pakistan’s pre-coronavirus Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims and removed the upper age limit of 65 years for participating in the pilgrimage. In 2023, over 81,000 Pakistani pilgrims opted for the government scheme, while the remainder chose private tour operators to facilitate their Hajj journey.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ proactive response to the surprisingly low number of applications submitted is reflected in the lengthening of the Hajj application deadline for 2024. The response is still below expectations despite initiatives like lowering the cost of the Hajj package and providing a sponsorship programme, which is mostly attributable to the current state of the economy. Saudi Arabia’s decision to remove the maximum age limit and reinstate Pakistan’s pre-coronavirus Hajj quota highlights the significance of the Hajj pilgrimage, which is firmly ingrained in Islamic history and has enduring significance.
