The deadline for pilgrims to turn in their passports at banks for Hajj 2023 has been pushed back.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has given Hajj pilgrims until April 28 to turn in their passports at their respective bank offices. This was reported by Radio Pakistan on Sunday.
The ministry also told the visitors to use the “Saudi Visa Bio” app on their phones to verify their biometrics while they were at home.
The government told Hajis that if they had any problems, they could go to the nearest Gerry’s Visa Center between 2pm and 6pm.
The late minister of religion, Mufti Abdul Shakoor, said last month that 179,210 Pakistani Muslims would go on Hajj this year.
Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad, Rahim Yar Khan, and Sialkot are all in the northern region. Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad, Rahim Yar Khan, and Sialkot are all in the southern region.
Hajj 2023 fares unveiled
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had already said that its pre-Hajj operation would begin on May 21 and last until August 12, during which time it would take 38,000 travelers to Saudi Arabia.
According to the PIA Hajj memo, “Pre-Hajj operations will begin from 1st Zilqad to 4th Zilhajj, 1444, which in Gregorian dates is 21st May to 22nd June 2023 (subject to moon sighting).”
The national flag carrier has chosen to charge fares in US dollars for the second year in a row. The prices for pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia under the private Hajj scheme range from $870 to $1180 for the Southern region, which includes Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur, and Hyderabad.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony made a decision last month to give pilgrims who pay in US money a 50% special quota in the Government Hajj Scheme-2023. This led to this decision.
On the other hand, the flights for travelers coming from the north cost between $910 and $1,220. The cities of Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, and others are all in the northern region.
A full pilgrimage paid for by the government under the Hajj plan would cost Rs1.25 million.
Facilities for tourists
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had promised that the government would help all travelers who wanted to go on Hajj this year in any way possible.
The financial czar said these things at a meeting in Islamabad in the first week of this month to review work on the Hajj Scheme 2023.
He had said, “Hajj is a sacred religious duty, and the government will help Hujjaj in every way possible.”
The secretary of the ministry of religious affairs told the meeting that the deadline for applications for the Hajj in 2023 was December 31. This was in line with the government’s policy on the Hajj.
It was also said that 72,869 applications had been sent to banks, but the government’s regular plan only had room for 44,190.