ISLAMABAD: A total of 20,170 applications for Hajj 2024 had been received for the Government Hajj Scheme, with the process of submitting applications still ongoing at designated banks across the country, according to a spokesperson from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The submission of applications for the Government Hajj Scheme will continue until December 3, with balloting scheduled for December 6. In addition, a special quota of 5,000 has been allocated for overseas Pakistanis, with applications processed on a first-come, first-served basis. This initiative aims to accommodate a large number of pilgrims, with the ministry encouraging all eligible applicants to apply before the deadline. On November 23, Pakistan government announced a massive drop in airfare for pilgrims performing Hajj 2025. As per details, pilgrims enrolled in the federal government’s Hajj 2025 program will benefit from financial relief of Rs 1.24 billion following the recent announcement of a relief package that reduces airfares by $50 per individual. This adjustment reduced Rs. 14,000 in ticket prices compared to the previous year, lowering the airfare for Hajj 2025 to Rs. 220,000, down from Rs. 234,000 per person last year.