On Thursday, the Ministry of Religious Affairs declared that applications for the government Hajj program’s remaining quota will once again be accepted.

The ministry made this choice in an effort to guarantee that the entire quota is used and to prevent sending any seats back to Saudi Arabia that are not used.

On a first-come, first-served basis, an extra 5,000 pilgrims will be allowed to apply starting next week.

These applications will be accepted during a designated timeframe; the ministry is now considering a proposal to restrict the submission period to five days.

Under the Hajj program, the government had previously received 81,500 applications; the decision to accept additional pilgrims is intended to provide those who were unable to reserve a seat in the first round of applications a chance.

To further streamline the procedure and guarantee efficiency and justice, no lottery will be held for the new applications, in contrast to the previous one.

Officials stressed that this action is meant to guarantee that no chance to bring pilgrims to the Holy Land is missed, in addition to optimizing the quota distribution.

The budget for the next fiscal year 2025–2026 is being prepared by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and stakeholders are being requested to submit their ideas by January 31.

All pertinent parties have received a formal letter from the FBR asking for their comments on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Income tax, sales tax, federal excise duty, and revenue-raising ideas are among the particular proposals that stakeholders are asked to submit. The board is also seeking suggestions for expanding the scope of current taxes and widening the tax base.

Along with proposals pertaining to taxes, the FBR has requested feedback on general sales tax for all companies as well as ideas for phasing away tax exemptions gradually. The FBR has underlined how important it is to simplify tax processes and make rules more understandable for taxpayers.

The American Business Council of Pakistan, DHA Karachi, the Pakistan Small Chambers of Commerce and Cottage Industry, the Pakistan Business Council, the Pakistan Stock Exchange, and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) are among the business and trade associations that have been contacted for their suggestions.

In addition, the FBR has requested ideas from a wide range of organizations, such as the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association, the All Pakistan United Retailers Association Karachi, the All Pakistan Bar Association, ICAP, the Pakistan Tax Bar Association, and tax advisory businesses.

Based on these stakeholders’ comments and ideas, the FBR will finalize its recommendations for the next finance bill.

In Ajmer Sharif, a group of pilgrims from Pakistan laid a traditional chaddar before the shrine of Hazrat Khawaja Syed Moinuddin Hasan Chishti.

Today, the traditional Chaddar was deposited at the Shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Syed Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (RA) in Ajmer Sharif by Pakistani Zaireen, accompanied by Mr. Tariq Masroof, Second Secretary, Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi.

A group of 89 Pakistani Zaireen are in Ajmeer Sharif from January 7–9, 2025, to help celebrate Hazrat Khwaja Syed Moinuddin Hasan Chishti’s (RA) 813th annual Urs Mubarak.

Following the traditional chaddar’s placement on behalf of the Pakistani people and government, the delegation prayed for Pakistan’s development and well-being.

The delegation was greeted by notable members of the Anjuman Moinia Fakhria Chishtia Khuddam Khwaja Sahib upon their arrival at the Dargah.

The annual Urs Mubarak of Hazrat Khwaja Syed Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (RA) is attended by Pakistani Zaireen in accordance with the 1974 India-Pakistan protocol for religious shrine visits.