Hajj Applications
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs has turned to the Foreign Ministry for assistance in response to a notably low turnout of Hajj applications this year, on Wednesday. Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Aneeq Ahmed, disclosed that Pakistani embassies worldwide were actively engaged in providing information and support for Hajj applications.
He emphasized ongoing communication with Pakistani embassies in key regions, including the UK, Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
To address the lackluster response, Pakistani embassies were conducting seminars to promote the sponsorship scheme. Despite these efforts, only 2,000 applications had been received by the ministry before the deadline extension.
In an effort to boost participation and meet a target of at least 23,000 applications for the sponsorship scheme, the ministry extended the deadline to December 22. The funds generated from these applications are earmarked for covering Hajj expenditures.
Given the current count of only 40,175 applications received under the government scheme, authorities decided to further extend the deadline by 10 days. Minister Aneeq Ahmed noted that the formal announcement regarding the extension would be made imminently. This move was prompted by the economic challenges facing the country, contributing to the decrease in the number of Hajj applications.
Minister Aneeq Ahmed acknowledged the importance of encouraging more citizens to participate in Hajj and underscored the government’s commitment to facilitating the pilgrimage despite the prevailing economic situation. The extension of the deadline reflects a proactive measure to accommodate potential applicants and ensure broader inclusivity in the Hajj process under both government and sponsorship schemes.
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