ISLAMABAD: The cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved the Hajj strategy for 2023 on Monday and decided to contribute $90 million in foreign exchange insurance.
Prior to the cabinet committee meeting, which was presided over by Senator Ishaq Dar, the federal minister of finance and revenue, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony provided a summary to this effect.
According to a statement made by the finance ministry, Pakistan has been given 179,210 hajj slots for the year 2023, which will be split 50/50 between public and private hajj programmes.
A quota of 50% from both public and private hajj programmes will be set aside for sponsorship programmes, it was stated, adding that the preliminary hajj package for the years 2023 is Rs. 1,175,000 for the northern region and Rs. 1,165,000 for the southern region.
PIA releases the 2023 Hajj rates.
The national flag airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), announced on March 4 that its pre-Hajj operation would begin on May 21 and last through August 12 during which time it will transport 38,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
According to the PIA Hajj circular, “Pre Hajj operation will start from 1st Zilqad to 4th Zilhajj, 1444 equivalent to Gregorian date 21st May till 22nd June 2023 (subject to moon sighting)”.
For the second consecutive year, the national flag carrier has decided to charge rates in US dollars. The fares for pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia under the private Hajj system have been set at $870 to $1180 for the Southern area, which comprises Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur, and Hyderabad.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony resolved on Friday to reserve a special 50% quota in the Government Hajj Scheme-2023 for pilgrims who will pay in US dollars, which led to this development.
The pilgrims from the northern region, on the other hand, paid between $910 and $1,220 for their flights. Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, and other cities are located in the northern region.
A comprehensive government-sponsored Hajj pilgrimage would cost Rs1.25 million.
