Daily Times

The recently announced Hajj policy for 2025 introduces changes, but affordability remains a issue. Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain announced that Hajj applications would be accepted from November 18 to December 3.

Balloting is scheduled for December 6. The Saudi government has allocated 179,210 slots for Pakistani pilgrims, of which 89,500 are reserved for the official Hajj scheme. Applicants now have the option to pay in three instalments, which offers some flexibility but may not resolve affordability issues.

The policy also includes a compensation of Rs 2 million for a pilgrim’s family in the event of death during Hajj, with Rs 1 million for major injuries.

The government has maintains Hajj expenses between Rs 1.075 million and Rs 1.175 million for the public scheme, excluding Rs 55,000 for sacrificial offerings. Despite these efforts, costs remain steep. Many demand that the government subsidize the religious ritual’s expenses, but Daily Times’ editorial policy discourages such demands. As the government is struggling to meet its rising expenses, it would be unfair to dole out taxpayers money on people’s religious rites.

Some conditions in the policy are also limiting. Children under 12, pregnant women and those with infectious diseases are barred from performing Hajj, which, although aimed at safety, further restricts applicants’ options. Smaller Hajj packages of 20 to 25 days have been introduced to provide an alternative to the traditional 38-42 day duration. Yet, the price difference remains marginal, limiting the benefit.

Another issue is the management of quotas. While unused quotas from the overseas scheme are to be reallocated to Pakistani pilgrims, last year’s surplus was surrendered, leaving many aspirants disappointed. The government should be vigilant in ensuring these unused slots are reassigned effectively.

Moreover, monitoring mechanisms for Hajj operations have been promised, aiming to enhance the quality of services in Saudi Arabia, where complaints from Pakistani pilgrims have been frequent. The success of these initiatives depends on their consistent and careful implementation. *