ISLAMABAD, DEC 27 (DNA) – The government will receive applications for next year’s Haj starting from January 15 until January 24, 2018, Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf announced in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The Haj package for 2018 will cost Rs280,000 for northern region and Rs270,000 for southern region, the minister said, adding that Pakistan’s last year’s quota of 179,210 and the cost from last year’s package have been maintained. An additional Rs13,050 will have to be submitted for animal sacrifice, he said.

The government has also decided to increase its quota to 120,000 while private tour operators will manage the rest of the pilgrims. The new policy says the ministry is in talks with all stakeholders to reduce the duration of Haj from 38 days to 30 in order to facilitate Hajis.

A special quota of 10,000 people would be reserved for applicants over 80 years of age and one attendant to accompany them, while draws for successful applicants will be held on January 26.

Applicants whose names have failed to appear in draws for at least three years will have an added chance of making it to Haj next year as another 10,000 places have been reserved for them.

According to the policy released today, anyone who has performed Haj on government scheme even once will not be allowed to submit an application via the government scheme this year while those who have performed the ritual within the last three years will not even be allowed to go on private quota.

Shia women over 45 years of age would be allowed to perform Haj without a Mehram while all other women will have to have a mehram accompanying them.