The Sponsorship Scheme, which does not involve balloting, is expected to continue for aspiring Hajj pilgrims.
Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Aneeq Ahmed, has affirmed that the Saudi Arabian government is dedicated to improving facilities and services for Pakistani pilgrims during Hajj 2024.
The official announcement of the cost will be made after the approval of the Hajj Policy 2024. Private tour operators are expected to charge more than the government scheme.
The draft Hajj Policy for 2024 in Pakistan is currently under review, and it is expected that the anticipated cost for the pilgrimage under the government scheme will be around Rs1.1 million per pilgrim. This projected cost includes expenses and separate accommodations for single-family pilgrims.
Saudi authorities have approved the ‘Road to Makkah’ project from Lahore and Karachi airports and are considering extending it to airports in Peshawar and Quetta. The ‘Road to Makkah’ initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s Guests of God Service Program, which aims to provide various services to Hajj pilgrims, such as visas and baggage facilities at their respective countries’ airports, hassle-free transportation to Makkah and Madina, and luggage delivery.
In addition to the regular Hajj packages, the government is planning to introduce a short-term Hajj package that can last for 20 to 25 days.
There have been discussions about reducing the number of Pakistani Hajj Group Organizers (HGOs) from 905 to 46. A letter has been sent to the Saudi Hajj and Umrah Ministry, requesting a delay in this reduction for the current year and suggesting a gradual decrease in the upcoming years. However, Saudi authorities may not change their decision, so preparations for the upcoming Hajj are being made accordingly.
The agreement for this initiative is renewed annually with countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, and Bangladesh.