Assalamualaikum - Pakistan starts returning Rs3.5bn in Hajj 2025 savings to pilgrims
Assalamualaikum. Good news for many pilgrims: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has begun refunding the savings from Hajj 2025 and says Rs3.5 billion (about $12.4 million) will be returned to pilgrims by Oct. 31. The refunds will be sent directly into pilgrims’ bank accounts through their banks.
Last year Saudi Arabia gave Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj, usually split between government and private schemes. The ministry explained that differences in refund amounts are mainly because accommodation costs varied across the zones in Mina and Makkah. Here’s the breakdown they published:
- About 25% of pilgrims (21,895 people) won’t receive a refund.
- 14% (12,286) will get Rs12,000 each.
- 13,939 pilgrims will receive Rs25,000 each.
- 8,496 pilgrims (10%) will get Rs48,000 each.
- Around 23% (20,302) will receive Rs75,000 each.
- 12% (10,945) will be refunded Rs90,000 each.
- 408 pilgrims will get Rs110,000 each.
The same total quota of 179,210 has been allocated for Hajj 2026. About 118,000 seats are for the government scheme and the remainder for private operators; the ministry said an extra 30,000 seats were added to the government scheme this year.
Prospective pilgrims were reminded that the second installment for Hajj 2026 must be paid at the designated banks between Nov. 3–15. Each pilgrim will also be notified through the official Pak Hajj mobile app. The ministry listed package costs as well: the long Hajj package (40 days) is set at Rs1,150,000 and the short package (25 days) at Rs1,200,000.
May Allah make it easy for those returning and for those preparing to go next year. Wa alaikum assalam.
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