In a major move to ease the financial burden on Pakistani pilgrims, Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain revealed a significant reduction in the costs of Hajj packages. Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, he announced that the 40-day long Hajj package will now cost Rs1,050,000, down by Rs25,000. Pilgrims opting for this package are required to pay a third installment of Rs450,000.
Furthermore, the 25-day short Hajj package has been reduced by Rs50,000, making the new cost Rs1,100,000, with a third installment of Rs500,000. The minister emphasized that pilgrims must submit their third installment between February 6 to 14 at designated banks. To facilitate the process, the ministry has launched the ‘Pak Hajj’ mobile app, which will notify each pilgrim about their payment status.
Also Read: Ministry Announces Opportunity for Late Hajj Applications
In a separate announcement, Chaudhry Hussain revealed that over Rs4.75 billion will be refunded to those who performed Hajj in 2024. These refunds, categorized into seven different groups, will be based on various factors including accommodation and airfare reductions. A significant portion of the refund also comes from savings on Qurbani.
According to the minister, different groups of pilgrims will receive varying refund amounts. For instance, 14% of the pilgrims will get Rs20,000, 5% will receive Rs35,000, and the majority will receive amounts ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs140,000, depending on their accommodation and other factors. The refunds will be transferred through nominated banks within the next two days.
