Ministry of Religious Affairs declared that it will organize a balloting to choose the successful applicants for the regular Hajj scheme next Thursday, Dec. 28, as the deadline for accepting applications ends today, Friday.
Govt. Announced Balloting Date For Regular Hajj Scheme
The Hajj application deadline extended to December 22 by Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony (MoRA), which said earlier this month that it had not received a sufficient number of applications by the original deadline of December 12.
Every Muslim adult who is financially and physically capable of doing so required to make the yearly Hajj pilgrimage to the holy sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime.
Furthermore, every year, MoRA conducts a balloting to choose the lot’s successful Hajj applicants.
“A draw for the regular Hajj scheme will be held on Dec. 28,” the ministry said in a statement it shared on social media platform X.
“Till Friday prayers today, banks received over 66,000 Hajj applications under the regular scheme.”
The ministry announced that the number of applications it received for the standard Hajj scheme exceeded the quota.
ریگولر حج سکیم میں آج داخلے بند۔۔ قرعہ اندازی 28 دسمبر ۔۔۔#سپانسرشپ حج سکیم میں 31 دسمبر تک توسیع۔۔۔ 31 دسمبر تک رقوم بھجوا کر بینک سے رابطہ کرنے والے درخواست گذار سپانسرشپ #حج سکیم میں داخلے کے اہل تصور ہونگے #hajj #Hajj2024 #Sponsorship #Scheme pic.twitter.com/yxNy9j6SgP
— Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony (@MORAisbOfficial) December 22, 2023
Deadline Extended For Sponsorship Scheme Till 31st Dec
MoRA also announced that the deadline for submitting applications for sponsorship program for the Hajj has extended to December 31.
“Overseas Pakistanis can deposit Hajj fees in dollars for themselves or their loved ones till the end of this month,” the statement added.
According to the ministry, in order to guarantee smooth flight operations, the Saudi Aviation Authority directed airlines to submit their Hajj flight plans by January 2, 2024.
This year, the government launched the Hajj sponsorship program, which enables Pakistanis living abroad to apply for the Hajj or to sponsor a relative to travel to Pakistan by paying in US dollars.
In exchange, candidates will not require to take part in the pilgrimage’s balloting procedure.
Low Number of Applications Received
Nevertheless, out of a 44,000 applicant total, the program could only draw 7,000 submissions.
Pakistan disappointed by the figures because the South Asian nation had intended to make $194 million from the program, of the $284 million needed for its Hajj operation in 2023.
Saudi Arabia abolished the 65-year-old age restriction and reinstated Pakistan’s pre-coronavirus Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year.
In 2023, about 81,000 Pakistani pilgrims completed the Hajj using government programs, with the remaining pilgrims using private tour companies.
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