A key meeting on private Hajj arrangements, chaired by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain, was held with prominent officials, including Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, Secretary of Religious Affairs, and HOAP Chairman Nasir Khan, ARY News reported.
The meeting focused on private Hajj operations, with detailed discussions leading to the finalization of agreements through mutual consensus. It was decided that group bookings for private pilgrims would commence on January 10. Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi stressed the importance of complying with the laws of both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Previously, the government extended the submission deadline for Hajj forms three times to meet the required quota. Despite these extensions, only 82,000 applications were submitted by the deadline. To address the remaining 7,000 slots, the Ministry of Religious Affairs declared all applicants successful and is exploring options to fill the vacant quota. These options include reopening the application process or allocating the slots to private Hajj operators.
In December 2024, the Ministry of Religious Affairs set deadlines for Hajj 2025 applications, announcing that forms could be submitted until Tuesday, December 17, at designated banks nationwide. Applications received by this date will be processed on a “first come, first served” basis. The second installment of Hajj 2025 dues is to be paid at specific banks between December 19 and December 27.
The Ministry also encouraged pilgrims to download the “Pak Hajj” mobile app for updates and announcements. To facilitate the submission process, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), upon request from the Ministry, directed 15 designated banks to keep their relevant branches open on Sundays in November 2024, ensuring smooth collection of Hajj applications and dues.