Ministry Of Religious Affairs Begins Receiving Second Hajj Installment

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has officially commenced the collection of the second installment of financial dues from prospective pilgrims selected under the Government Hajj Scheme, outlining an operational window running until October 20.

According to an official spokesperson from the ministry, candidates who successfully secured spots during the primary balloting process and cleared their initial registration charges are now mandated to remit the second payment tranche through designated nationwide commercial bank branches. Officials emphasized that strict adherence to the timeline is critical, warning that failure to submit the required sum within the designated period may result in automatic cancellation of provisional registration, thereby opening vacancies for applicants situated on the official waiting list.

The staggered installment protocol was devised to ease the immediate financial burden on pilgrims while enabling Pakistani authorities to meet rigorous contractual timelines established by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Amid foreign exchange considerations and broader economic parameters, timely mobilization of pilgrimage funds ensures that the federal government can smoothly execute procurement contracts for inter-city transportation, accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, and specialized catering logistics in Mina and Arafat.

Looking ahead, commercial banking partners have been directed to operate specialized facilitation desks to assist senior citizens and rural applicants throughout the transaction period. Following the close of the payment window on October 20, the religious affairs ministry is slated to roll out nationwide biometric verification phases, mandatory medical examinations, and extensive orientation workshops across major urban centers to ensure comprehensive administrative preparedness.