ISLAMABAD: The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs announced that the savings made in Hajj 2025 last year are being returned to the pilgrims.
In this regard, the payment of three and a half billion rupees will be completed by October 31.
The refund will be made through bank accounts from the relevant bank branches.
The federal minister said that thrift, transparency, and convenience have been ensured in the Hajj arrangements, as a result of which savings are being returned to pilgrims of different categories.
According to the data, 25 percent, i.e. 21,895 pilgrims will not get any refund, 14 percent (12,286) pilgrims will get Rs 12,000 each, 16 percent (13,939) will get Rs 25,000 each, 10 percent (8,496) will get Rs 48,000 each, 23 percent (20,302) will get Rs 75,000 each, 12 percent (10,945) will get Rs 90,000 each, while 408 pilgrims will get Rs 110,000 each.
The Minister for Religious Affairs said that, on the instructions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the government aims to provide the best facilities to the Hajj pilgrims.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs maintained close contact with the Saudi government to further improve the Hajj arrangements.
He said that for the first time in Hajj 2025, air conditioning, folding mattresses, and chipboard walls were provided in the tents of Mina, which will continue next year as well.
The “Hajj Nazim Scheme,” introduced to guide the Hajj pilgrims, is being made more effective, under which a Nazim will be appointed for every 150 pilgrims.
The Federal Minister said that a quota of 30,000 has been set for Hajj 2026, and the receipt of applications has been completed.
The date for submitting the second installment has been fixed from November 3 to November 15, while all the details will be provided through the “Pak Hajj” mobile app.
He said that the cost of the long Hajj package (40 days) has been fixed at Rs 1.15 million and the cost of the short package (25 days) at Rs 1.2 million. The pilgrims will have to submit the second installment of Rs 6.5 million.
The federal minister further said that every pilgrim will be provided with a trolley bag, a hand carry bag, a scarf for women, and a Saudi SIM, on which calls and internet facilities will be available for 300 to 600 minutes.
He said that the government’s vision is to make Hajj more convenient, transparent, and full of facilities so that the guests of Allah are blessed with a dignified, easy, and blessed Hajj.
