Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The first phase of mandatory Hajj ritual training for intending pilgrims of the Government Scheme will commence on February 12 in seven Haji camps located nationwide.
A spokesman of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said that over 69,000 government scheme pilgrims will undergo training in two phases in various districts of the country.
The second training phase would be started after the holy month of Ramadan. Details of the training schedule will be communicated to the successful intending pilgrims through mobile messages and the Hajj app. Hajj pilgrims will attend training workshops at their convenient local venues.
The spokesman said the chief hajj trainer while addressing the ministry’s 90 officers and official’s training workshop, said that special attention in training has been given to Hajj rituals as well as discipline and administrative issues.
The training curriculum has already been finalized by Ahmed Nadeem Khan, Joint Secretary Administration of the Ministry, along with Director General Syed Mushahed Hussain Khalid and Chief Trainer Nasir Aziz Khan.
Hajj training will be conducted across seven Hajj camps situated in various districts. Quoting the trainers, the spokesman said the new extensive training program will cover the ‘Pak Hajj’ mobile app, guidance for Hajj preparations, understanding rituals, addressing challenges during Hajj, and providing general instructions.
The chief trainer mentioned that model tents resembling Mina Valley style have been set up in the training centres. Pilgrims will receive guidance from Master Trainers using 3D videos and interactive question-and-answer sessions.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Caretaker Religious Affairs Minister Aneeq Ahmed announced on Thursday results of a draw for Hajj 2024, Pakistani state media reported, with more than 63,000 applicants selected for the next year’s pilgrimage under the government scheme. Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage that requires every Muslim adult to undertake a journey to the holy sites in Makkah at least once in their life, if they are physically and financially capable to do so. The Pakistani religious affairs ministry holds a ballot every year to select successful Hajj applicants for the sacred journey.
“According to detail, 69,438 applications were received under Regular Hajj Scheme and 63,805 of them remained successful in the balloting,” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported, citing the religious affairs minister.
“A waiting list of unsuccessful 5,633 applicants has been prepared as per their cities of departure.”
Applications for the government’s Hajj sponsorship scheme can be filed until December 31, according to the Pakistani religious affairs ministry. The Hajj sponsorship scheme was introduced by the government this year, allowing overseas Pakistanis to apply for Hajj or sponsor someone in Pakistan for the journey by paying in US dollars. In return, applicants would not have to participate in the balloting process for the pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia restored Pakistan’s pre-coronavirus Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year and lifted the upper age limit of 65 years to perform the pilgrimage. More than 81,000 Pakistani pilgrims performed Hajj under the government scheme in 2023 while the rest used private tour operators.
