The government has introduced a significant cut in Hajj airfares for 2025, offering financial relief to pilgrims.
Under the new fares, each of the 89,605 pilgrims will pay Rs220,000 for air travel, marking a reduction of Rs14,000 from the Rs234,000 charged last year. This translates to a $50 saving per person, collectively easing the burden on pilgrims by Rs1.24 billion.
The fare reduction is the result of successful negotiations between Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. For the second consecutive year, PIA has agreed to lower its fares. The reduced rates will also apply to other airlines, including Saudi Arabian carriers. Discussions with private Pakistani airlines and Saudi national airlines are expected to conclude this week.
The division of travel arrangements for Hajj 2025 will allocate 40% of pilgrims to PIA, another 40% to Saudi Airlines, and the remaining 20% to private Pakistani carriers.
Applications under the Government Hajj Scheme 2025 opened on Monday and will remain open until December 3. The lottery for the scheme is scheduled for December 6, with first-time applicants under the regular scheme receiving priority, as stated by a religious ministry spokesperson.
Additionally, 5,000 seats have been set aside for the Sponsorship Scheme. Under this initiative, overseas Pakistanis can sponsor themselves or relatives by contributing $4,225 per person, with allocations on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Hajj packages offer two options: a long stay of 38-42 days or a short stay of 20-25 days. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has encouraged eligible applicants to apply promptly to take advantage of the reduced costs and secure their place for Hajj 2025.
