The religious ministry extended on Tuesday the deadline for Hajj application submissions by seven days while acknowledging the challenges faced by residents of far-flung areas in submitting their applications.

“Applicants under the Government Hajj Scheme can now submit their forms at designated banks until December 10, 2024,” Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain said.

As many as 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims would perform Hajj in 2025, according to the Hajj Policy 2025. The Hajj quota has been divided with a ratio of 50:50 between the government and private Hajj schemes.

The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means, and more than 1.83 million pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2024 from abroad to take part.

Last year saw more than 1.8 million people complete the Haj rites which last for several days. Around 90 per cent came from overseas, mainly from elsewhere in the Arab world and from Asia, according to official figures.

The minister announced that all pilgrims who submitted their applications between November 18 and December 3 under the regular Hajj scheme are declared “successful.” Similarly, applicants under the sponsorship scheme have also been approved without the need for a draw.

Hussain further clarified that if applications exceed the allocated quota, a ballot would be conducted to ensure fairness. “Overseas Pakistanis are required to deposit their sponsorship funds by December 10 to confirm their participation.”

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To streamline the process, the ministry has introduced an online portal accessible via its official website, allowing applicants to submit their Hajj forms from home. Pilgrims are advised to download the ‘Pak Hajj’ mobile app for the latest updates and guidance.

The balloting is scheduled to be held on November 6.

The cost for the government scheme is expected to range between Rs1,075,000 to Rs1,175,000 while the additional cost for the sacrifice would be Rs55,000.