It has been estimated that around 65,000 pilgrims will be using the Makkah Route Initiative this year.
Commencement of Hajj Operation
Hajj Operation 2024 will commence in Pakistan from 9th May to 9th June from eight different Airports of Pakistan.
Hajj 2024
Hajj 2024 is expected to take place from 14th June to 19th Jun.
Makkah Route
The Makkah Route Initiative is a new procedure that has been introduced for facilitating the pilgrims to allow them to complete their immigration process at the time of departure from their own country. It will help them to bypass customs checks and long lines of Immigration process upon their arrival in Saudia Arabia.
Last year the facility was only available at Islamabad Airport and 26,000 pilgrims used this facility but this year it has been confirmed by Pakistani Officials that Saudi Authorities have allowed the expansion of the Makkah Route to the busiest airport in Pakistan, Karachi Airport.
The service was initially launched in the year 2019 and it could only be availed at Islamabad Airport. Syed Atta Ur Rehman, Secretary of Religious Affairs told in a briefing to the Media that 41,000 pilgrims out of 65,000 will be using this facility under the Government Hajj Scheme while the remaining 24,000 Pilgrims will be using under the Private Tour operators.
29,500 pilgrims will be using the facility Makkah Tour going through Islamabad Airport while the rest of the 35,500 pilgrims will take benefit from it by travelling through Karachi Airport.
Restoration of Hajj Quota 2023
Last year two major changes were made to facilitate the pilgrims such as :
The upper age limit of 65 years was abolished.
The pre-pandemic Hajj Quota of 179,210 pilgrims was restored.
Hajj 2023 (Divison of Gov & Private Schemes)
Nearly 81,000 Pilgrims performed the holy Ritual under the supervision of the Government Hajj Scheme, while the rest of the Pilgrims used the services of Private tour operators.
Hajj 2024 (Divison of Gov & Private Schemes)
This year 69,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj out of which 65000 will perform Hajj under the Government Scheme while around 5000 pilgrims will be doing so under the Sponsorship Scheme.
Sponsorship Hajj Scheme
The sponsorship Hajj scheme was launched by the Pakistani Government last year, it helped overseas Pakistanis to pay in dollars for the journey, and they could also sponsor the journey to someone by doing so. The benefit of the scheme was that applicants were not required to participate in the balloting process.
Early Preparations of Hajj 2024
Mr Rehman further said that this year as per Saudi Government Instructions and requirements early Preparation for Hajj was started. This has helped the Pakistani Government secure good accommodation for Pakistani Pilgrims in Makkah, Medina and Mina.
