Pakistan announces launch of short-term Hajj package. Beginning the next year, short-term Hajj will be offered to Pakistani pilgrims, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Aneeq Ahmed, the federal minister for religious affairs, stated that the new package would last 18 to 20 days and that pilgrims would be able to choose between it and the lengthy stay package.
In front of the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, the minister disclosed the strategy. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi, who presided over the conference, advised that the abbreviated Hajj should be between 18 and 30 days.
The package that is typically provided to pilgrims is 35 to 50 days long and includes lodging, transportation, and foot.
As Pakistan announces launch of short-term Hajj package, the short-term Hajj declaration comes as this year’s Hajj fee has increased due to the weakening of the currency. It is the reason the application received for Hajj 2023 were below then the quota allocated by Saudi Arabia.
Can Pakistani women perform Hajj without mehram?
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has granted women conditional permission to perform the Hajj pilgrimage without a mehram (close male relative).
The CII’s conclusion is based on the Fiqah-e-Jafria, Maliki, and Shafi’i schools of thought, which recognize the Shariat provision enabling women to independently conduct the yearly Islamic pilgrimage.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs sought the CII’s opinion on the matter, and a spokesperson for the council explained that if a woman’s parents or husband consent, she can perform Hajj without a mehram; however, a woman still requires a mehram for Hajj according to the Hanafi and Hanbali schools of thought.
According to the CII spokeswoman, ladies should travel with a trustworthy group of other female pilgrims to safeguard their safety and security, and the Ministry of religious affairs should properly check the group before issuing authorization for the holy journey.
