88,700 Hajj Pilgrims Pay First Instalment; Ministry Receives Over Rs55 Billion

ISLAMABAD: As many as 88,700 intending Hajj pilgrims under the government scheme have deposited their first instalment, with the Ministry of Religious Affairs receiving more than Rs55 billion in just three days.

According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, 46,400 pilgrims from Punjab, 23,500 from Sindh, 11,300 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 3,933 from Islamabad and 2,555 from Balochistan have deposited the first instalment.

In addition, 677 pilgrims from Gilgit-Baltistan and 362 from Azad Jammu and Kashmir have also paid their first instalment.

The ministry said a new record had been set for online payments through the Hajj Portal developed by the National Information Technology Board (NITB), with more than Rs55 billion collected in the first instalment over three days.

The ministry said intending pilgrims can make payments through the Pak Hajj App and Hajj Portal using PSID or manual bank challan facilities. Around 40 percent of pilgrims made their payments online through OneLink cards, while Balochistan recorded an exceptionally high online payment ratio of 72 percent.

The ministry said 18,500 seats under the long Hajj package were still available under the government scheme.

It advised people planning to perform Hajj 2027 to complete their personal information and payment process on the Hajj Portal as soon as possible to secure their seats.

The ministry clarified that bookings for the 40-day Hajj package would be closed once the required number of pilgrims had been reached.

Four days earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf to ensure the provision of the best possible facilities to Pakistani pilgrims.

During a meeting with the prime minister, Sardar Yousaf briefed him on preparations and arrangements for Hajj as well as other matters related to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the ministry to ensure effective arrangements and complete all necessary preparations for Hajj within the stipulated time.