Hajj 2024: The government to hold the draw on December 28 for the regular scheme.
In addition, the spokesperson declared that in response to pleas from Pakistanis living abroad, the sponsorship scheme’s application deadline has been extended till December 31.
The government has set aside 25,000 seats for the sponsorship programme in an effort to draw in significant foreign cash in the aftermath of shrinking foreign exchange reserves. Those who pay their dues in dollars from overseas will be proclaimed “winners” without the need for voting.
The ministry was “alarmed” because only 2,800 Haj applications were received for the sponsorship programme, according to a previous Geo News story. This is why the programme has been extended by nine days.
After contacting the interior and foreign ministries, the ministry decided to approach the Ministry of Information in addition to writing to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis to inform Pakistanis residing overseas about the Haj application filing process.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia has directed airlines to submit their Haj flight schedule by January 2, 2024, according to the ministry’s announcement.
Read more:Is coronavirus vaccine required for Hajj 2024?
Additionally, the government has declared the release of a smartphone app created especially to digitise Haj 2024.
The National Information Technology Board (NITB) developed the application, which will offer data gathered from the application form, including personal, group, Mehram, assistant, and extra facility information.
The minister also said that pilgrims can obtain facts about their Haj group, including the personal information of group members.
It is important to note that private Haj operators have reserved half of the 179,000 Haj seats that Pakistan has secured.
In the meantime, it is anticipated that 89,605 Pakistanis will undertake the Haj via the government programme, which will cost about Rs1,075,000, or Rs100,000 less than it did the year before.
In addition, the government has unveiled long- and short-term packages that last for 20 to 25 days and 38 to 42 days, respectively.
In the meantime, women will have the chance to travel on the sacred path alone for the first time in history, as they are not traditionally required to have a male companion.
