Do Pakistani pilgrims need Covid-19 vaccination certificate for Haj 2024? The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has issued a significant update for prospective Haj pilgrims planning to undertake the religious obligation next year.
In an official statement released on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the ministry announced the removal of the coronavirus vaccine certificate requirement for Haj pilgrims.
Henceforth, individuals intending to participate in the Haj pilgrimage are no longer obliged to submit their COVID-19 vaccination certificates.
This announcement follows the Saudi authorities’ decision to ease major restrictions in June of the current year, allowing the Haj pilgrimage to return to its full capacity for the first time since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The pilgrimage saw the participation of around 2 million people, a significant number, following the lifting of restrictions that were imposed due to the pandemic.
In 2019, the Haj pilgrimage witnessed the participation of over 2.4 million individuals. However, in 2020, attendance was severely restricted to a few thousand citizens and residents owing to the stringent COVID-19 lockdowns.
In 2022, approximately 900,000 people were granted the opportunity to perform Haj as the Saudi authorities permitted limited numbers of foreign pilgrims.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs commenced the registration process for Haj 2024 under the government scheme on November 27, with the application period extending until December 12.
Notably, applications can be submitted with a passport valid until December 16, 2024, and the Haj application can also be processed using a passport application token.
According to the ministry’s spokesperson, an estimated 89,605 Pakistanis are expected to perform Haj under the government scheme next year.
In the event that the number of applications surpasses the prescribed limit, a balloting process will be implemented.
A noteworthy change in the pilgrimage arrangements is the inclusion of women, who will now have the opportunity to undertake the sacred journey without the traditional requirement of a male companion.
Under the sponsorship scheme, 25,000 seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, marking a significant development in facilitating the participation of a diverse range of pilgrims in the Haj pilgrimage.
Do Pakistani pilgrims need Covid-19 vaccination certificate for Haj 2024? check the Tweet:
حج 2024 کیلئے #کرونا #ویکسین کی شرط ختم، #عازمین #حج کو کرونا سرٹیفکیٹ جمع کرانے کی ضرورت نہیں #Hajj #COVID19 #hajj2024
— Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony (@MORAisbOfficial) December 4, 2023
