Govt to receive Haj applications from Aug 4

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf Wednesday said the government will start receiving Haj applications from August 4.

Giving the details of Haj Policy 2026, as approved by the federal cabinet earlier in the day, he said Pakistan’s quota of pilgrims will remain at 179,210 out of which 119,210 will perform Haj under the government’s regular scheme.

He said the quota of private scheme had been reduced by 50 percent to 60,000, meaning that two-thirds of the total quota had been given to the government scheme.

The government scheme’s quota is 66.52 percent and private scheme’s quota stands at 33.48 percent.

The minister said the total Haj expenses under the government scheme will vary between Rs1,150,000 and Rs1,250,000, while Rs500,000 would be deposited in the first installment also in first week of August.

There would also be short duration Haj package of 20 to 25 days under the government scheme. Those who got registered earlier, as directed by the ministry, would be given priority.

Asked as to why the government had reduced the private scheme quota when the Senate’s sub-committee had blamed the ministry for the lapse of last year’s quota, Sardar Yousuf said the ministry was not taken into confidence while compiling the report.

He said the quota of private operators had been reduced so that they could manage the quota and provide better services

Secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs said the ministry’s portal will stop receiving applications as soon as the government scheme’s quota was completed.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Wednesday apprised the Senate standing committee that the government was holding consultations on the travel of Zaireen to Karbala by sea for Arbaeen.

Senator Attaur Rehman chaired the meeting, which discussed the matter relating to Haj 2025 and issue of road travel ban for Zaireen to Karbala.

Senator Raja Nasir Abbas said it was the government’s responsibility to protect the religious rights of Zaireen who desired to visit Karbala for Arbaeen. Sardar Muhammad Yousuf assured that all the reservations would be addressed.