Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, has announced that all applications for Hajj 2024 submitted by December 3 have been declared successful, reported 24NewsHs Tv channel Tuesday.
Addressing concerns raised by applicants, the minister confirmed that those who applied under the Sponsorship Scheme have also been accepted without the need for a lottery.
“All Hajj applications received till December 3 are successful, and applicants under the Sponsorship Scheme are also exempt from the lottery process,” Hussain stated.
In response to logistical challenges faced by applicants, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has extended the deadline for submission of Hajj applications by seven days.
“Hajj pilgrims now have until December 10 to submit their applications through designated banks,” the minister announced.
However, Hussain clarified that if the number of applications exceeds the available quota, a lottery will be conducted to ensure fairness. “In case of excess applications, a lottery will be held,” he emphasized.
Overseas Pakistanis participating in the Sponsorship Scheme are required to deposit the necessary funds by December 10 to secure their places. The minister urged all applicants to download the Pak Haj mobile app for updates and guidelines regarding the pilgrimage.
This extension aims to facilitate pilgrims facing challenges and ensure smooth processing of applications for the upcoming Hajj season.