In a noteworthy announcement, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony declared the removal of the coronavirus vaccine requirement for Hajj 2024.
The official statement, conveyed through the ministry’s verified platform, highlighted the cessation of the necessity for Hajj pilgrims to provide coronavirus vaccination certificates.
Applications for Hajj have been underway since last month and will be accepted until December 12. It’s essential to note that the Saudi government has designated a quota of 179,000 seats for Pakistan in the upcoming year.
Within the government scheme, 89,605 individuals are slated to embark on the Hajj pilgrimage. A groundbreaking development is the conditional permission granted to women to perform Hajj without a mehram, marking a significant shift in tradition.
Contrastingly, the initial six days of the application period saw a relatively low turnout, with only 7,000 pilgrims applying for the sacred journey. Additionally, despite the allocation of 25,000 slots for the sponsorship Hajj scheme, the government received a modest 400 applications.
This recent adjustment in Hajj requirements aims to facilitate a smoother process for potential pilgrims, reflecting the ongoing efforts to adapt to the evolving circumstances related to the global pandemic.