Hajj likely to become more expensive from next year

RIYADH: Hajj is likely to become more expensive from next year, for which pilgrims will have to pay an additional Rs 100,000 towards Hajj expenses.

According to religious affairs sources, the upcoming short Hajj will be Rs 100,000 more expensive than last year, costing Rs 1.3 million. The short Hajj will last 20 to 22 days.

The long Hajj will also be Rs 50,000 more expensive than last year, costing Rs 1.2 million. The long Hajj will last 40 days.

Earlier, the federal cabinet had approved the Hajj Policy for the years 2027-30 in a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif.

The cabinet praised Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and the ministry’s team for the excellent Hajj arrangements this year, while the meeting was also given a detailed briefing on the new Hajj policy.

The meeting was informed that the new Hajj policy, unlike the previous one-year Hajj policies, consists of the first 4-year Hajj policy and plan, under which long-term planning, improvement in operations, and provision of best facilities to pilgrims will be possible.

SOPs and other regulations will be formulated for the implementation of the proposed policy, while amendments can also be made as needed to harmonize with Saudi laws and regulations.

The cabinet was informed that under the new policy, instead of annual registration, Hajj aspirants will be able to register for Hajj without interruption for any year as per their requirement till 2030, as a result of which a priority waiting list will be prepared.

The meeting was further informed that the entire Hajj system is being made completely digital, under which payments will also be made through a digital system, while a digital system and digital monitoring will also be introduced for registering and redressing complaints.

It was informed in the briefing that under the policy, quotas have been allocated for government and private Hajj, while long and short Hajj programs are also being introduced.

Necessary training of pilgrims, Takaful, and emergency response have also been made part of the new policy.

The federal cabinet directed that the appointment of Hajj assistants should be made through a transparent system and purely on merit, while third-party validation of government and private Hajj operations should also be ensured.