Govt Hajj Package 2023 Pakistan Price, Dates, Schedule, Application Form

Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is one of the five pillars of Islam. The process of planning and booking a Hajj package can be overwhelming, especially for Pakistani pilgrim seekers. However, with the help of approved tour operators and travel agencies, the process has become significantly easier. In this blog, we would provide information on the latest news and updates related to Hajj 2023 from Pakistan, as well as the process of applying for a Hajj.

Hajj 2023 News

During a news conference, Mufti Abdul Shakoor, the Federal Minister of Religious Affairs, announced that the Hajj policy has been approved by the federal cabinet, and Hajj applications will be accepted through 14 designated banks from March 16 to 31.

He added that 50% of the government's quota is reserved for Private Hajj, and the age limit for pilgrims has been removed since last year. However, those who have performed Hajj in the past five years are not eligible to apply for the regular Hajj scheme. He further stated that More than 179,000 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj this year.

The estimated cost for Hajj expenses in the northern regions is Rs. 1,175,000 and Rs. 1,165,000 for the southern regions. Any remaining money will be refunded to the pilgrims. Despite a decrease in the value of the rupee, Hajj expenses have increased by approximately 1.3 lakh rupees, but the issue of exchanging money for Hajj has been resolved by the government.

They also introduced a sponsored Hajj scheme for Pakistanis across the sea, and there has been a decrease in the mandatory Hajj obligations compared to last year.

Mufti Abdul Shakoor said that the Treasury Department has promised to provide $90 million, and under the Hajj policy, expenses are lower than those of India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. He explained that the increase in taxes in Saudi Arabia has resulted in increased expenses, but only the amount of expenses is collected from government pilgrims, and Saudi Arabia has reduced some expenses at their request.

Hajj Policy 2023

The federal government has announced the Hajj policy 2023 to take the Hajj pilgrims for Hajj. Following is the detail about the 2023 Hajj Policy for Pakistan.

Where to Submit Hajj Applications

To apply for Hajj, individuals can submit their applications at 14 designated banks across the country. The list of selected pilgrims for this year's Hajj will be announced during the first week of April. In case an applicant is not selected, they will receive their money back from the banks within seven days.

Furthermore, a waiting list will be created for Hajj pilgrims, which will only reserve 0.5 percent of the official Hajj quota. Applicants must hold a valid Pakistani Machine-Readable Passport and National Identity Card, with an expiry date no earlier than December 26, 2023.

Hajj 2023 Packages and Prices

The minister for Islamic Affairs stated that pilgrims in the northern part of Pakistan would be charged Rs 1.175 million, while those in the south would be charged Rs 1.165 million, making the cost of Hajj in Pakistan lower than in India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. People from Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, and Rahim Yar Khan who participate in the sponsorship scheme would pay $4,325, and other pilgrims from the same region would pay an estimated amount of Rs1,175,000. Hajj for those in the southern region would cost approximately Rs1,165,000 and $4,285. The minister attributed the increase in the cost of Hajj to the devaluation of the rupee.

There are different Hajj Packages 2023 from Pakistan. The total cost of Hajj from Pakistan 2023 for the economy package is around PKR 770000 if you book a double room for yourself. It will include flight, meals, and transport. Furthermore it varies from Hajj tour company to company.

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Government Hajj Scheme 2023

For Karachi, Quetta, and Sukkur, the Hajj package without qurbani will costs around PKR 745,967 while with qurbani it cost around PKR 791,337. Pilgrims who wished to bring their children had to pay an extra PKR 3,100.

For Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, and Sialkot, the Hajj package cost around PKR 755,017 with qurbani, and PKR 800,387 without qurbani. Those who opted to bring their children had to pay an additional PKR 4,000.

Government Hajj 2023 Sponsorship Scheme

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony in Pakistan has launched a Sponsorship Scheme for approximately 22,400 pilgrims who pay their dues in US dollars. Under this scheme, they will receive a 25% special quota in the government Hajj scheme and will be exempted from the balloting process.

The government scheme will charge each pilgrim PKR 1.1 million, but the Hajj expenses may increase to PKR 1.3 million if the Pakistani Rupee depreciates further. Foreign remittances will also be accepted as payment in USD.

Hardship Cases Quota

Under the government scheme, a portion of the seats will be reserved for specific cases. Specifically, 3% of the total seats will be allocated to hardship cases, while 300 seats will be set aside for low-paid employees and laborers of companies registered with the EOBI and Workers Welfare Fund. Separate balloting will be conducted for these reserved seats.

Who is Ineligible for Hajj

The intending pilgrims who have performed Hajj within the last five Hajj years, i.e. from 2016 to 2022, will be ineligible for Hajj 2023. However, the exception to this bar exists for pilgrims under the sponsorship scheme.

Age Limit

There is no age limit for Pakistani pilgrims this year as the government of Saudi Arabia has removed the upper limit of 65 years.

Need of Mahram

Under the Hajj policy, a mahram (Father, Brother, Son) must accompany female pilgrims but women over 45 years of age can go without mahram.

How to Apply for Hajj 2023 from Pakistan

Here are the following points to apply for Hajj from Pakistan:

• Visit the Hajj website (http://www.hajjinfo.org/).

• Click on "HAJ FORM" and select "APPLY" from the drop-down menu.

• On the right side of the page, choose "New User Registration."

• Fill out the registration form with your email address, first and last name, password, state, and district.

Hajj Application Forms 2023 from Pakistan

Application forms for Hajj 2023 are not yet available, but they will be soon. The application form is expected to be released in April 2023. We will inform you when the application forms become available.

List of Banks for Hajj Application 2023

• The Bank of Punjab (BOP)

• National Bank Limited (NBP)

• Habib Bank Limited (HBL)

• Meezan Bank

• Allied Bank Limited (ABL)

• Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB)

• United Bank Limited (UBL)
• Bank Alfalah
• Soneri Bank
• Dubai Islamic Bank
• Askari Bank
• Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited
• Faysal Bank
• Bank Al Habib