Pakistan introduces installment plan to make Hajj pilgrimage more accessible

The Government of Pakistan has announced an initiative to make Hajj 2025 more accessible. The federal cabinet is yet to make a decision on a proposal to let pilgrims pay their Hajj expenses in three installments, rather than in one lump sum.

Officials from the ministry of religious affairs noted that the initiative is specifically designed to make the annual pilgrimage more accessible for those struggling to pay the entire amount upfront. It is going to ease the financial burden on scores of citizens.

The total cost for Hajj 2025 is estimated at Rs1.1 million. In the beginning, prospective pilgrims are required to pay Rs200,000 to apply. If they get selected in a lottery, they need to pay an additional Rs 400,000 and the remaining amount prior to their departure.

Ensuring financial issues do not hinder participation in Hajj

The proposed installment plan reflects the Pakistani government’s commitment to facilitating the annual Hajj experience for a broader segment of the population, ensuring that financial issues do not hinder any citizen’s participation in the journey.

Besides the payment structure, the latest Hajj guidelines also prohibit children under the age of 12 from undertaking the pilgrimage. Individuals having serious health problems are also required to submit medical certificates.

The latest Hajj policy has set a quota of 179,000 pilgrims from Pakistan. Both government and private tour operators are going to address the needs of an equal number of pilgrims. There are special allocations for hardship cases, according to media reports.