Hajj second installment deadline expires, refunds announced

ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The deadline for depositing the second installment under the government Hajj scheme has expired. Applicants who failed to make the payment will have their first installment refunded. According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, 1,200 Hajj pilgrims under the government scheme had not deposited their second installment by the original due date. Consequently, the deadline for the deposit was extended by one day. Individual notifications were also sent to those pilgrims who had not yet deposited the second installment. This extended deadline expired at midnight. The spokesperson stated that the applications of those who failed to make the payment will be cancelled, and their first installment will be refunded. Pakistan Prepares to Launch Interest-Free Hajj Savings Plan Earlier, the government is preparing to launch an interest-free Hajj Savings Plan to help pilgrims manage their expenses through advance financial planning. The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Directorate of National Savings following approval from the prime minister. According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a consultative meeting was held under the chairmanship of the secretary of religious affairs, with officials from the Finance Ministry and National Savings in attendance. The proposed plan will allow pilgrims to deposit money through digital channels and choose a savings period. It will also include a facility for transferring savings among family members. A proposal allowing participants to withdraw their funds at any time without deductions is also under consideration. The secretary of religious affairs has directed officials to finalize the rules and regulations for the scheme within two months. The meeting also discussed introducing similar savings schemes for Umrah and other religious pilgrimages. According to the ministry's spokesperson, the initiative aims to help pilgrims plan their expenses in advance amid rising inflation. Further details, including operational procedures, will be announced later.