Hajj Application Deadline Extended to December 10
The Ministry of Religious Affairs announced on Tuesday an extension of the deadline for Hajj applications under the government Hajj scheme to December 10, providing aspiring pilgrims additional time to submit their applications. The previous deadline was December 3.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, confirmed that all applications submitted from November 18 to December 3 have been approved without balloting. Additionally, applications under the Sponsorship Scheme have also been accepted, with overseas Pakistanis required to deposit the sponsorship fee by December 10.
Key Highlights of the 2025 Hajj Policy
- Total Quota: 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims will perform Hajj in 2025, equally divided between the government and private Hajj schemes (89,605 each).
- Special Allocations: 5,000 seats are reserved under the Sponsorship Scheme, 1,000 for hardship cases, and 300 for laborers and low-income employees registered under EOBI or the Workers Welfare Fund.
- Approval Without Balloting: The ministry plans to approve 70,000 applications received by December 3 without a draw. Applications submitted after this date may undergo balloting if the quota is exceeded.
Payment Structure for Applicants
- Initial deposit of Rs200,000 is required at the time of application.
- A second installment of Rs400,000 will be collected from applicants who are confirmed for Hajj.
- The remaining expenses must be paid by February 10, 2024.
Hajj Costs and Flight Schedule
The total cost for Hajj will range from Rs1,075,000 to Rs1,175,000, depending on arrangements. The flight schedule for Hajj will be announced once the application process concludes.
The ministry’s efforts aim to ensure transparency and convenience for pilgrims while accommodating as many applications as possible.
