Pakistan
Applications for this year Hajj will start from March 16
Minister for Religious Affairs Mufi Abdul Shakoor says that the expenditures increased for Hajj after fall of rupee against the rupee but still low against the other countries in the region.
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor said that the receiving of applications for this year Hajj would start from March 16.
Mufti Abdul Shakoor said that the last date to submit application for Hajj was set as March 31.
“The age limit for Hujaj [pilgrims] has been removed this year,” said the minister while addressing a press conference on Hajj arrangements on Friday.
“The balloting for Hajj will be held in April,” said the minister, adding that the Hajj expenditure went up to Rs300,000 after fall of rupee against the US dollar.
He said that they took steps to facilitate the pilgrims while 50 per cent quota was allocated to both private and official hajj tour operators.
Sponsorship Hajj scheme, he said, was introduced for overseas Pakistanis.
Talking about the Hajj expenditures, the minister said that the hajj cost for Northern areas was Rs11, 75,000. He claimed that the hajj expenditures for pilgrims were comparatively low for Pakisanis as compared to Bangladesh.