Pakistan to select successful Hajj applicants through government balloting scheme today

This undated file photo shows a Saudi immigration officer returning passport to a Pakistani pilgrim at Islamabad airport. (SPA)

• Radio Pakistan says over 32,000 successful intending pilgrims will be selected from 63,604 applicants
• Saudi Arabia has announced Hajj for Muslims across the world after a two-year gap due to COVID-19

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will select successful Hajj applicants under the government scheme through a balloting process on Sunday, reported state-owned Radio Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia this year announced the annual Hajj pilgrimage for all Muslims across the globe after a hiatus of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pakistan will be sending 81,132 pilgrims for Hajj this year, with 60 percent of the quota allocated to private Hajj operators.
The maximum age limit for pilgrims this year is 65.
“Balloting of Hajj applications under government scheme is being held today in Islamabad,” Radio Pakistan said, adding: “Over 32,000 successful intending pilgrims will be selected out of the total 63,604 applicants.”
Last month, the Pakistan government announced people willing to perform Hajj this year could submit online applications from May 1 to 13, with token money of Rs50,000 ($270).
The ministry of religious affairs also requested all aspiring pilgrims to ensure their passports were valid till January 5, 2023, adding that people whose passports were going to expire before that should submit new ones by May 18.
Pakistan’s religious affairs minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor said on April 29 the per person cost of this year’s Hajj could range from Rs700,000 ($3,770) to Rs1,000,000 ($5,386), owing to the increase in taxes and cost of other facilities in the kingdom.