The government has started issuing refunds worth Rs. 3.45 billion to pilgrims who performed Haj this year under the regular government scheme.
The development was announced by the Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf.
The refund process will be completed by October 31 with 75% of pilgrims, which are 66,000 individuals out of a total of 84,960 will receive refunds ranging from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 110,000.
The remaining 25 percent (around 21,900 pilgrims), who were provided superior accommodation and facilities, will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Breakdown of refunds shared by the ministry shows that 14% of pilgrims will receive Rs 12,000 each, 16% Rs 25,000, 10% Rs 75,000, and 12% Rs 90,000, while 408 pilgrims will get Rs 110,000 each.
The minister noted that, for the first time, pilgrims were provided with air-conditioned accommodations at Mina, equipped with gypsum walls and folding mattresses.
He added that the Haj quota under the regular scheme was increased by 30,000 this year, and bookings under both government and private schemes have been completed.
For the upcoming Haj, the cost for a short-stay package has been set at Rs 1.2 million, while a 40-day package will cost Rs 1.15 million.
The second instalment of Rs. 650,000 must be deposited through designated banks between November 3 and November 15. Each pilgrim will also receive a Saudi SIM card with 300 to 600 free internet minutes.
Sardar Yousuf thanked the Saudi Minister for Haj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki for their cooperation in facilitating Pakistani pilgrims during Haj 2025.
