Saudi Arabia Hnitiates Hajj Operation With Thorough Preparations

Saudi Arabia has officially commenced its Hajj operations by signing agreements with various countries, marking the beginning of this year’s Hajj season. Tawfiq Al Rabiah, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, made the formal announcement, highlighting the coordination efforts among government departments and private entities to ensure the smooth execution of the religious event and provide optimal facilities for pilgrims.

This announcement follows the conclusion of the third Hajj and Umrah Services Conference in the kingdom, where Al Rabiah expressed gratitude to King Salman for his support. The Saudi Arabian government is currently finalizing Hajj agreements with different nations, with the largest number of pilgrims expected from Indonesia.

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In the case of Pakistan, the initially allocated number of seats was approximately 180,000. However, the government has decided to return 21,000 seats. The deadline for the regular Hajj scheme was initially set for December 12th but was extended to December 22nd. To attract applicants, the government allowed individuals who had performed Hajj in the last five years to apply for the upcoming Hajj.

The authorities have introduced a Short Hajj package for pilgrims, and the Sponsorship Scheme remains valid for this year. The Long Hajj package, spanning 38-42 days with an 8-day stay in Medinah, entails different costs for participants from the South region (Karachi and Sukkur) and other cities (Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, Sialkot, Faisalabad).

For the Sponsorship Scheme applicants opting for the Long Hajj package, the cost is $3765 for the South Region and $3800 for the North Region. Regular Hajj applicants choosing the Short Hajj package will incur costs of Rs 11,40,000 for the South region and Rs 11,50,000 for the North region, with the Hajj duration spanning 20-25 days.

For the Sponsorship Scheme participants opting for the Short Hajj package, the costs are $4015 USD for the South region and $4050 for the North region. These details provide an overview of the arrangements made for the upcoming Hajj, reflecting the diverse packages available to cater to the preferences and circumstances of different pilgrims.