ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved new Hajj Policy 2017 in a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony sharing further details said that 179,210 people from Pakistan will perform the religious obligation this year.
Out of the Hajj quota, sixty percent i.e. 107,526 would perform under Government Hajj Scheme while the rest forty percent i.e. 71,684 would be allocated to private Hajj operators.
The Ministry noted that Government Hajj Scheme was increased on persistent demand of the general public, which witnessed increase from around 86,000 to around 280,000 in last three years. The new policy says that there shall be no free Hajj.
The total packages for Hajj 2017 are as:
Rs.280,000 for North Region and Rs.270,000 for South Region including Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur.
According to the updated policy, any person who has performed Hajj during the last seven years will not be eligible this year under government Hajj scheme and five years for Private Hajj Scheme.
However, this does not apply to mehram (male companion) accompanying a woman.
All intending pilgrims must have machine readable passport valid up to March 3, 2018 and valid CNIC.
