The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony declared that it will be returning Rs 55,000 to aspiring Hajj pilgrims as a “Qurbani amount.”
On the specific instructions of Minister of Religious Affairs Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood, the money will be repaid to pilgrims participating in the sponsorship programme as well as regular pilgrims before they left for Saudi Arabia to do the Hajj.
The ministry instructed the pilgrims of both the regular and sponsored programmes in a press release to withdraw Rs 55,000 from their respective banks prior to their departure because they wouldn’t receive it back in Saudi Arabia.
‘The Saudi government-run Qurbani booths would be available near government residences, providing a hassle-free process for purchasing the coupons,’ it said.
“In the event of any issues or difficulties in acquiring the Qurbani amount, they can lodge a complaint with the accounts officer of the ministry directly at 0519208552,” it maintained.
The choice was made a few weeks after Minister for Religious Affairs Senator Talha Mahmood declared that this year’s Hajj will be free of the cost of the sacrificed animals.
Pakistan has a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for the Hajj in 2023. It should be noted that a 50% quota had been set aside for the Sponsorship Scheme, a particular service provided to Hajj pilgrims looking to get foreign currency from overseas, in the designated dollar account of the Religious Affairs Ministry.
The government set the cost of attending the Hajj at Rs1.175 million per pilgrim this year, which is 68% more expensive than last year’s costs. Apparently, this increased cost led many Muslims to decide not to perform the ritual in the face of skyrocketing inflation.
As far as the flight operation is concerned, the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had announced that its pre-Hajj operation would begin on May 21 and continue till August 12 during which it would take 38,000 pilgrims to the Holy Land.
“Pre Hajj operation will commence from 1st Zilqad till 4th Zilhajj, 1444 corresponding to Gregorian date 21st May till 22nd June 2023 (subject to moon sighting),” according to PIA Hajj circular.
Also read: Hajj 2023: Details about cost, quota revealed as Hajj operation nears
It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia is now able to accommodate 2.3 million pilgrims for the first time since the epidemic travel restrictions were abolished. One million individuals participated in the 2022 Hajj season, however, only those between the ages of 18 and 65 who had completed their immunizations against the virus and had no chronic illnesses were permitted to travel to the country.
