ISLAMABAD: A significant meeting on private Hajj arrangements, chaired by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain, was held, with key officials including Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, Secretary of Religious Affairs, and Chairman HOAP Nasir Khan in attendance.
The meeting thoroughly discussed private Hajj operations and finalized agreements with mutual consensus. It was decided that group bookings for private pilgrims would begin on January 10. Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi stressed the importance of complying with the laws of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Earlier, the government extended the Hajj application submission deadline for a third time to meet the required quota. Despite the extensions, only 82,000 applications were received by the deadline.
To address the remaining 7,000 slots, the Ministry of Religious Affairs declared all applicants successful and is now exploring options to fill the quota. These options include reopening applications or allocating the unfilled quota to private Hajj operators.
In December 2024, the Ministry of Religious Affairs set a deadline for Hajj 2025 applications, accepting submissions until Tuesday, December 17, at designated banks nationwide. Applications were to be processed on a “first come, first served” basis, and the second installment of Hajj 2025 dues was scheduled for payment at designated banks from December 19 to December 27.
To stay updated on announcements, the Ministry encouraged pilgrims to download the “Pak Hajj” mobile app.
Additionally, in November 2024, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) directed 15 designated banks to keep their branches open, including Sundays, to facilitate Hajj applications and dues submission. This measure followed a request by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
