Hajj 2024: Govt alarmed as only 2,800 applications received in sponsorship scheme

• Govt has allocated 25,000 seats for the sponsorship scheme.
• Those paying in dollars from abroad are "exempted" from ballotting.
• Ministry to seek help to enlighten diaspora on application process.

As the December 22 Hajj application deadline draws near, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has decided to seek assistance to ensure increased participation of the Pakistani diaspora after only 2,800 Hajj applications were received in the sponsorship scheme.

The government in its bid to attract valuable foreign exchange in the wake of depleting forex reserves, has allocated 25,000 seats in the sponsorship scheme and those paying their dues in dollars from abroad will be declared as "winners" without the need for ballotting.

With such a low application count in the sponsorship scheme — coupled with 58,000 applications received under the regular scheme — the Ministry of Religious Affairs has written to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis to enlighten Pakistanis living abroad about the Hajj application filing process, Geo News reported.

The ministry — after approaching interior and foreign ministries — has also decided to seek the assistance of the Ministry of Information in this regard.

The development comes as the government extended the Hajj application deadline by 10 days from December 12 to 22 earlier this week.

The applications can be submitted on a passport valid till December 16, 2024, and the Hajj application can also be processed on a passport application token.

Around 89,605 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj under the government scheme which will cost around Rs1,075,000 — Rs100,000 less than that of the previous year.

Furthermore, the government has also introduced both long and short-term packages spanning over 38 to 42 and 20 to 25 days, respectively.

Meanwhile, women, for the first time in history, will have the opportunity to undertake the sacred journey without the traditional requirement of a male companion.

Furthermore, the government would provide free-of-cost mobile SIMs with roaming internet packages to the Pakistani pilgrims.

It is pertinent to know that Pakistan has secured 179,000 Hajj seats, with half reserved for private Hajj operators.