The Minister of MOHIA announced the quota and expenses for this year's Afghan pilgrims at a press conference.

Thursday, 6th Ramadan 1446 AH (16th Hoot 1403 SH), Kabul, Afghanistan.

Today, the Ministry of MOHIA announced the quota for Afghan pilgrims as 30,000 individuals, and the total expenses for performing the Hajj per person as 282,090 Afghanis. In this meeting, Sheikh al-Hadith Dr. Noor Muhammad Saqib, Minister of MOHIA, along with the deputies of this ministry, Mawlawi Arifullah Arif, Sheikh al-Hadith Mawlawi Zarmohammad Haqani, Sheikh Mawlawi Azizur Rahman Mansoor, and several heads of this ministry and media representatives participated. The event began with the recitation of several verses from the Holy Quran. Then, Sheikh al-Hadith Dr. Noor Muhammad Saqib welcomed the attendees and provided detailed information about the Hajj process for 1446 AH in accordance with 1404 SH. He added that with the grace and assistance of Allah Almighty and the cooperation of relevant Emirati departments of the Ministry of MOHIA, efforts have been made to provide necessary facilities for the esteemed pilgrims with minimal suitable expenses, considering the economic situation of Afghan pilgrims. After thorough review and consideration, the expenses for Hajj per pilgrim have been determined as 282,090 Afghanis, and the total expenses for the Hajj process amount to 8,278,777,320 Afghanis.

Additionally, according to the quota determined by Saudi Arabia regarding the transportation of esteemed pilgrims to the Holy Shrines, useful facilities have been planned both within Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. Some of these are as follows:

• The Ministry of MOHIA has received a quota of 30,000 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia and is making serious efforts to increase this quota.

• Besides the quota for ordinary pilgrims, there are separate quotas for Mujahideen, Emirati departments, heirs of martyrs and disabled individuals, and migrants in countries like Iran, Pakistan, and others.

• Contracts have been signed with Ariana Afghan Airlines and Kam Air for the transportation of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

• To provide better guidance and training on rituals to esteemed pilgrims, qualified teams have been dispatched to 34 provinces of Afghanistan to recruit teachers for Hajj from local scholars. These teachers will be sent to Saudi Arabia with the pilgrims after successfully passing their examinations.

• To facilitate Hajj matters better and to sign contracts for accommodation, food, transportation, and other necessary agreements before the start of Hajj rituals, teams have been sent to Saudi Arabia.

• In Mecca, three important areas close to the Holy Mosque have been secured for the accommodation of all pilgrims. Additionally, similar to previous years, three meals will be provided for the pilgrims along with other necessities.

It is noteworthy that all pilgrims whose turn for Hajj is in 1446 AH according to 1404 SH and who have paid their first installment are informed that they should collect their second and final installment fee on Sunday, 9th Ramadan 1446 AH (19th Hoot 1403 SH) from the General Directorate of Hajj and Umrah and Ziyarat in Kabul or from their respective provincial offices of MOHIA. They should deposit the second installment amount in the designated bank. Those applicants and Emirati departments who have newly registered and have not yet made any payments must pay the full amount for Hajj at once.