Pakistan unveils Hajj policy for 2024. The Pakistani government has stated that under the Hajj rules for the upcoming year, women will be eligible to undertake Hajj without a male guardian (Mehram).
On Friday, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said that the Hajj strategy for 2024 would be revealed in the following two weeks.
Pakistan unveils Hajj policy for 2024
According to ARY News, the ministry explained that the federal cabinet would approve the Hajj policy in ten days and that the ministry would follow up with discussions about gathering applications for the Hajj the next year.
Aneeq Ahmed, the caretaker minister for religious affairs and interfaith harmony, had previously stated that Karachi would be included in the Road to Makkah project for the 2019 Hajj, which would allow pilgrims to pass through Pakistan’s immigration facilities without having to wait in queue in the holy land.
This year, Pakistan made a number of modifications to the Hajj procedure, including the addition of a short-term hajj that would last 18–20 days.
The package, which is often provided to pilgrims, lasts 35 to 50 days and includes lodging, transportation, and foot.
The decision for the short-term Hajj comes as this year’s Hajj expenses have increased due to the weakening of the rupee. The number of applications received for Hajj 2023 fell below the quota set by Saudi Arabia mostly because of this.
It is important to note that Talha Mehmood, a former minister for religious affairs, had declared that the United States would charge pilgrims for the Hajj in US dollars in 2024. However, as of this writing, there is no proof of this statement.
