The ministry spokesperson said around 54,000 seats are still available under the private Hajj scheme, giving intending pilgrims additional time to complete their bookings through authorised Hajj organisers.
According to the ministry, Rs14 billion has so far been transferred to the accounts of authorised Hajj companies through the National IT Board’s Digital Hajj Portal, while another Rs6 billion has been deposited online through OneLink and bank cards.
The spokesperson said pilgrims can select their preferred Hajj package from home through the Pak Hajj App. They have been advised to select only an authorised Hajj organiser and make payments exclusively through the official application.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has warned pilgrims against making direct payments to any individual or company. It said the ministry would not be responsible for losses resulting from payments made through channels other than the official Pak Hajj App.
The ministry said the deadline for completing bookings under the private Hajj scheme through the Hajj Portal is November 20.
Pilgrims have been advised to use only the official Pak Hajj App and Digital Hajj Portal for selecting Hajj packages, choosing authorised Hajj organisers and handling all financial transactions.