Private Hajj bookings pick up momentum

Private Hajj bookings have gained momentum after the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Monitoring Section took notice of the booking situation, according to ministry officials. A spokesperson for the ministry said the number of applications received through the Pak Hajj App reached 21,547, while around 50,000 seats were still available under the private Hajj scheme. He advised private pilgrims to complete payment of their Hajj dues through the Pak Hajj App. The ministry spokesperson clarified that direct payments to any individual or Hajj company were prohibited. According to the ministry, around Rs18 billion had been transferred to the accounts of authorised Hajj companies through the Hajj Portal. Of the total payments, 45 per cent had been deposited through digital channels, while the remaining 55 per cent had been made through manual bank challans. The last date for registration under the private Hajj scheme through the Hajj Portal is November 20. The portal currently offers more than 2,000 Hajj packages provided by 25 authorised companies, giving prospective pilgrims a range of options for the pilgrimage. The ministry advised private Hajj pilgrims to report any complaints through the inquiry option available on the Hajj Portal.