Special 25% Hajj Quota for Pilgrims launched for those depositing Hajj Fee in dollars

Recently, on 24 February 2023, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony made a special announcement to dedicate a 25% special quota allocation towards government Hajj program for those depositing fee in US dollars. Private Hajj Packages from Pakistan.

According to official sources, due to the new Hajj policy, the ministry will exempt those pilgrims who will deposit their fee in dollars from the balloting process. 

It is reported by the ministry that under the new ‘Sponsorship Scheme” introduced is expected to bring in foreign exchange to the country, at least 22,400 pilgrims will be benefited. 

Furthermore, the ministry clarified that the Hajj expenses fees could also be deposited in dollar currency through the foreign remittances method as well. 

Previously, according to a statement by the religious affairs Ministry secretary, they had requested that the Finance Ministry make required arrangements for $2 billion to cater for Hajj pilgrimage preparations, which were declined. 

 

However, unlike other nations, Pakistan must provide advance payment for lodging and traveling arrangements for Hajj pilgrimage services, for which it does not charge its local citizens. However, the required amount collected locally by the ministry is in Pakistani rupees, which need to convert to Dollars before sending to Saudi Arabia for making arrangements. 

As the people of Pakistan are already suffering high inflation of everyday commodities and hardly making ends meet, the PML-N coalition government is planning to increase the official government hajj scheme programs price to unimaginable levels.

 

 

According to the ministry of religious affairs, the official Hajj program would expectedly cost Rs.1.1 million (11 lac) but might reach Rs.1.3 million (13 lac) in case the Pakistani rupee currency depreciation continues any further. 

 

The Saudi Arabia government has allowed 179,000 pilgrims from Pakistan to perform Hajj this year, thereby restoring the hajj quota to pre-pandemic levels. 

According to the ministry of religious affairs minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor statement, the Saudi Arabian government is in the process of increasing the Hajj tax rate from 18% to 20%. 

 

Moreover, the ministry of religious affairs has also increased the quota from 40% to 50% for private operators in view of the current foreign exchange liquidity situation, which might be expanded later on.