The Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs, Aneeq Ahmed, is set to unveil the Hajj Policy 2024 today in Islamabad.
Recently, the Federal Cabinet endorsed adjustments in the Hajj Policy 2024, enabling 179,210 Pakistani individuals to participate in the sacred pilgrimage in 2024.
Key revisions in the policy include the return of unused sponsorship quotas from public and private schemes to the Saudi Arabian Government. Additionally, a comprehensive monitoring system will be enforced to oversee the financial arrangements of Hajj group organizers.
The updated policy eliminates reservations for Hajj organizer companies, enabling even children under 10 years old to embark on the Hajj journey. Moreover, in private Hajj schemes, the requirement for accompanying attendants for individuals above 80 years of age will be relaxed.
Hajj Group Organizers will be mandated to contract local assistants during their stay in Saudi Arabia. Failure to comply may result in fines and blacklisting for the organizers.
The new policy also involves a reduction in the hardship Hajj quota. Half of the local assistant quota will be reserved for Pakistani students enrolled in Saudi Arabian universities, allowing them to serve as welfare staff during the pilgrimage.
