Aneeq Ahmad, the Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, has announced that there will be more cost reductions for the Hajj in 2024.
Speaking to a private news outlet on Tuesday, the minister declared that the government had already lowered the cost of the Hajj by 100,000 rupees and that an additional 50,000 rupees would be cut over the course of the next few days, with the money being returned to the pilgrims’ accounts.
The minister reaffirmed that free mobile SIM cards with internet roaming packages will be given to pilgrims throughout their holy journey. He also said that a new mobile application would help pilgrims with navigation.
A few days ago, the federal government revealed the schedule for Hajj 2024, introducing a short Hajj package that would be completed in 25 days for the first time. For those from the southern regions (Burewala, Bhakkar, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Jhang, and Dera Ghazi Khan), the cost of the Short Hajj is Rs 1,140, 000; for those from the northern regions (Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan, Gilgit, Chilas, Passu, and Karimabad), it is Rs 1,150, 000.
Pilgrims travelling with the standard Long Hajj package should expect a 42-day journey, of which eight are spent in Medinah. Additionally, the federal government has kept the Sponsorship Scheme in place, which allows Pakistanis living abroad to undertake the Hajj. It is anticipated that applicants who apply through this scheme won’t have to go through the voting process.
According to a religious affairs ministry spokesman, “Those Pakistanis living abroad without a bank account can open an Asaan account after arriving in Pakistan so that reimbursement (if any) can be made in case the cost of Hajj changes.” The spokesman also stated that a bank account is required for those applying from within Pakistan through the regular Hajj scheme.
It is important to note that the government has declared that applications for the Hajj will be accepted beginning on November 27 and running until December 12.
