The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and a dream come true for many Muslims worldwide. Every year, thousands of Pakistani pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia to perform this holy ritual. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the Hajj operation was suspended last year. But now, there is good news for all those who were eagerly waiting to perform Hajj in 2023. The Pakistani government has announced its Hajj Policy for 2023, which includes the allocation of a Hajj quota, tentative package prices, and flight operations. 

What You Need To Know About Pakistan’s Hajj Policy For 2023

Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s finance minister, has unveiled the Hajj policy for 2023, which offers a $90 million foreign exchange insurance policy. According to the policy, Pakistan is given a quota of 179,210 pilgrims, which would be split 50/50 between public and private Hajj programs. Let’s examine the policy’s salient features in more detail.

• Hajj 2023 Foreign Exchange Protection

For the 2023 Hajj trip, the Finance Minister has granted a $90 million foreign exchange cover. This will guarantee that pilgrims from Pakistan have enough money to travel to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

• Distribution of Quota between Government and Private Schemes

Each of the government and commercial Hajj plans will receive a 50% quota under the policy, which will be set aside for sponsorship. This indicates that many pilgrims will be able to complete the Hajj with the help of sponsors.

• Tentative Hajj Package for Northern and Southern Regions

The estimated Hajj package for the Northern and Southern regions in 2023 is Rs. 1,175,000 and Rs. 1,165,000, respectively. This covers the price of travel, lodging, and any other costs.

• Flight Operations for the 2023 Hajj by PIA

According to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), its flight operations for the Hajj in 2023 will start on May 21 and end on August 2. During the Hajj operation, the airline will fly passengers from various places in Pakistan to Jeddah and Madinah onboard Boeing 777 and Airbus A-320 aircraft.

• Airfare for Private and Government Hajj Schemes

Under the private Hajj program, PIA will charge pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia airfare in US dollars. The cost of the pilgrims’ flights will be between $870 and $1,180 for those from the Southern region and $910 to $1,220 for those from the Northern region, respectively. The Ministry of Religious Affairs would make the official airfare announcement for pilgrims traveling to conduct the Hajj under the government program.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, Pakistani pilgrims who have experienced difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are anticipated to receive relief from the Hajj policy for 2023. A huge number of pilgrims would be able to complete Hajj with ease and comfort thanks to the government’s efforts to provide foreign exchange coverage and divide the quota between government and private Hajj schemes. Pilgrims can prepare for their journey by using the tentative Hajj package for the Northern and Southern regions as well as the flight information for both private and public Hajj programs.