30,000 Afghans to perform Hajj as pilgrimage costs reduced

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs (MoHRA) announced on Saturday that 30,000 Afghans will travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year, with the cost per pilgrim reduced by nearly 16,000 afghanis compared to last year.

Speaking at a press conference at the Government Media and Information Centre (GMIC) in Kabul, the Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs, Dr Noor Mohammad Saqib, said that Afghanistan’s Hajj quota for solar year1405 will remain at 30,000 pilgrims, with a commitment to seek an increase in future years.

He explained that the quota includes ordinary citizens, Mujahideen, government employees, heirs of martyrs, persons with disabilities and refugees.

This year, each pilgrim will pay 266,400 afghanis, bringing the total cost of Hajj operations to 7,818,300,720 afghanis. Last year, the cost per pilgrim stood at 282,090 afghanis, representing a reduction of 15,690 afghanis per pilgrim.

Dr Saqib stated that contracts for accommodation, meals, transport and other related services have been finalised on schedule. In Mecca, modern accommodation close to the Grand Mosque (Haram Sharif) has been arranged for all 30,000 pilgrims.

In Medina, lodging has been secured in the central area near the Prophet’s Mosque, enabling pilgrims to perform their rituals with ease and comfort.

He added that agreements have been signed with Ariana Afghan Airlines and Kam Air to organise the transportation of pilgrims from the country’s four zones to Medina and Jeddah.

Nationwide registration for Hajj has been reopened this year, and pilgrims will be selected through a lottery system.

Since the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, 87,104 registered Hajj applicants from previous years had remained on waiting lists, with some expected to wait until the 1412 solar year.

However, due to the transparent and fair allocation of quotas, the ministry has been able to send nearly all waiting pilgrims to Hajj within five years.

The minister also noted that pilgrims may obtain Hajj payment schedules from the central Hajj, Umrah and Pilgrimage Department, as well as provincial offices, starting Monday, 2 February. Payments can be made through designated banks.

Approximately 30,000 Afghans also performed Hajj last year.

hz/sa