ISLAMABAD : March 10,2023: After approval of the federal cabinet , minister for Religious and Minorities Affairs has announced the policy for Hajj 2023.
Minister for Religious Affairs , Maulana Abdul Shakoor, announced the policy for Hajj 2023 at a press conference here on Friday.
According to the minister , Pakistan has a quota of 179210 intending Hajis for 2023.
Around 14 banks will facilitate intending Hajis this year . Each intending Haji will pay Rs 1175000 for Haj expense this year for Northern region covering Lahore , faisalabad , Sialkot , Rahimyar Khan and Islamabad .
The cost of Haj for Southern region has been fixed at Rs 1165000 per person for Haj 2023.
The minister said the Haj expense have gone up substantially due to devaluation of the rupee and global phenomenon of rising inflation. This has pushed up Haj expense substantially.
He added that on the request of Pakistan, the Saudi government has given special concession in expenses for Haj 2023 for Pakistan. The minister said the government needs foreign exchange of around $ 286 million and keeping in mind the financial crunch ,the government has introduced a special quota for intending Hajis . The minister added that 50 % quota of intending Hajis will be fixed for Sponsorship scheme . The applicants who will opt for sponsorship.scheme will pay $ 4325 for Northern region and $ 4225 for Southern region . He said the government will generate $ 194 million from Haj sponsorship scheme and the remaining around $ 90 million will be provided by the government .
Balloting for regular scheme would be held on April 5,2023.
The minister said the Directorate Haj will provide the best facilities to the intending hajis during Haj. He also added that trained staff will also oversee the facilities to be given by the Private Haj Group Operators (HGOs).
The Road-to-Mukkah project will continue at Islamabad airport and efforts will be made to expand it to other airports . Those who performed Haj in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022 will not be eligible for Haj in ,2023.
