ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has given the green light to Pakistan’s request to provide an equal quota to all private Hajj tour operators for the upcoming pilgrimage, set to take place from June 26 to July 1, 2024.
This year, Saudi Arabia has reinstated Pakistan’s pre-COVID Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims and removed the previous age limit of 65 years for the pilgrimage.
Approximately 90,000 Pakistani pilgrims are anticipated to participate in Hajj through the government scheme, while an equal number will join private tour operators for their religious journey.
Earlier, the Saudi government had slashed the number of Pakistani private Hajj tour operators from 905 to 46, causing concern among industry participants.
After high-level discussions, Pakistan urged Saudi authorities to allocate a dedicated quota to all 904 operators, safeguarding the interests of numerous individuals in the industry.
The Saudi government accepted this proposal, earning praise from private tour group operators.
Under the new plan for private Hajj operators, there will be a total of 180 groups of pilgrims, each consisting of 500 people.
Every private Hajj operator will now be allowed to facilitate 100 pilgrims, resulting in each group comprising pilgrims utilizing services from five different operators.
On November 16, Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed unveiled Pakistan’s Hajj Policy 2024, announcing a Rs100,000 reduction in the cost of the Hajj package under the government’s scheme for this year.
Hajj is an annual pilgrimage mandatory for every physically and financially capable Muslim adult. It remains one of the largest religious gatherings worldwide, where Muslims gather to pray and perform rituals in the holy city of Makkah.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced the commencement of applications for the government’s Hajj scheme across the country, starting tomorrow, November 27.
Pakistani banks opened their doors to aspiring pilgrims until December 12, offering an ample window to secure a place for this sacred journey.
This year’s Hajj pilgrimage represents a historic shift toward gender inclusivity. Women will now have the opportunity to embark on this sacred journey without the traditional requirement of a male companion, marking a progressive approach to this religious obligation.
To handle the expected surge in applications, the Ministry has outlined a fair lottery system in case the number of applicants exceeds the allocated quota. This ensures transparency and equal chances for all seeking to partake in this spiritual pilgrimage.
As part of the government’s commitment to facilitating the pilgrimage, a special sponsorship scheme of 25,000 slots has been designated. This creates diverse opportunities for prospective pilgrims eager to participate in the Hajj journey.
