The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that late Hajj applicants can submit their applications next week, leaving 5,000 places available under the government’s Hajj plan.
According to ministry sources, applications will be accepted for the remaining quota of 5,000 places, Express News reported.
However, this time there will be no lottery system. Instead, Hajj tickets will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The ministry has proposed a five-day deadline for submitting new applications, with exact dates expected to be confirmed soon.
Previously, a total of 81,500 Hajj applications were received under the government scheme, but the remaining places were left for late applicants.
These 5,000 additional places offer a second opportunity for those who did not meet the initial deadline to undertake the religious pilgrimage.
Additionally, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that private group bookings for Hajj 2025 will begin on January 10.
In a video statement, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi stated that private bookings for Hajj will begin from tomorrow after the matters are resolved.
He added that the Pakistani government will work to improve the provisions on government quota and private Hajj pilgrims.
Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi also emphasized that compliance with the laws of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is mandatory.
It is worth mentioning that Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain yesterday chaired a meeting on this issue, which was attended by Pakistan Ulema Council Chief Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Secretary Religious Affairs Zulfiqar Haider and HOAP President Nasser Khan.
Previously, it was announced that women attempting to perform Hajj without a male guardian (mahram) would need permission from their husbands or fathers, according to a statement from the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Tuesday.
