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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Nations have agreed to launch a joint project to curb illegal activities harming the environment and the economy, state media reported on Thursday, as Islamabad finds ways to mitigate future disasters brought about by climate change. 

A deadly monsoon season since late June that saw torrential rains and the melting of glaciers killed over 1,000 people across Pakistan. Over 22,000 livestock were killed and 2.2 million acres of crops were washed away, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Experts have linked Pakistan’s frequent and irregular weather patterns to climate change effects. 

Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik met Troels Vester, the country representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Islamabad to discuss matters related to the environment and the economy, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

“Both sides agreed to develop a joint project aimed at improving inter-agency coordination and modernizing laws and enforcement mechanisms to curb illegal activities impacting the environment and economy,” the state media said. 

Vester acknowledged Pakistan’s commitment to addressing environmental crimes and reaffirmed UNODC’s full support in this area, Radio Pakistan said. 

According to the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, environmental crimes encompass a broad list of illicit activities, including illegal trade in wildlife, smuggling of ozone-depleting substances (ODS); illicit trade of hazardous waste; illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing; and illegal logging and trade in timber. 

Pakistan has stepped up efforts in recent years to tackle environmental crimes through stronger legislation, institutional reforms and international cooperation. The government has launched drives against illegal logging, wildlife trafficking and industrial pollution, while provincial environment agencies have stepped up inspections and launched tree plantation drives. 

Pakistan has also introduced the National Clean Air Policy, tightened penalties under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act and adopted digital systems to monitor emissions and waste. 

Despite contributing less than 1 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan is considered one of the worst affected countries due to climate change. The South Asian country has suffered from heatwaves, droughts, torrential rains and floods over the past recent years. 

Experts warn unless the government takes preventive measures, climate change effects in Pakistan can intensify in the coming years. 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry announced on Thursday that the government has started the process of refunding savings from Hajj 2025 back to pilgrims, saying that an amount of Rs3.5 billion [$12.4 million] will be refunded by Oct. 31. 

Pakistan’s government offers refunds to Hajj pilgrims from the amount it saves on the cost of the annual Islamic pilgrimage. In a press release, the religious affairs ministry said the refunds will be transferred directly to the pilgrims’ bank accounts via their respective bank branches. 

������Ƶ granted Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj last year. Typically, this national quota is evenly split between government-run and private schemes. 

“The process of refunding the savings from Hajj 2025 has also commenced,” the religious affairs ministry announced. “A total of PKR 3.5 billion ($12.4 million) will be refunded to pilgrims of Hajj 2025.”

The ministry said that the difference in refund amounts is primarily due to variations in accommodation costs in the different zones of Mina and Makkah. It gave a breakdown of the refund numbers:

Around 25% of the total pilgrims, which amount to 21,895, will not get any refund.  

A total of 14% of the pilgrims, 12,286, will receive Rs12,000 each [$42.60] while 13,939 pilgrims will receive Rs25,000 [$88.75] each and 10% of the total pilgrims, amounting to 8,496, will receive Rs48,000 [170.4] each. 

Around 23% of the total pilgrims, 20,302, will receive Rs75,000 [$266.25] each, 12% of the total pilgrims, 10,945, will receive Rs90,000 [$319.50] each and 408 pilgrims will reach receive Rs110,000 [$390.50] each. 

Pakistan has been allocated the same quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026. Of these, around 118,000 seats have been allocated to the government scheme and the rest to private tour operators. The religious affairs ministry noted that this year, an additional quota of 30,000 pilgrims has been issued for the government scheme.

It reminded prospective pilgrims that the second installment of Hajj 2026 must be deposited at the designated banks between Nov. 3-15, adding that each pilgrim will be notified through the official “Pak Hajj” mobile application.

The cost for the Long Hajj Package (40 days) has been set at Rs1,150,000 [$4,094], while the short Hajj package, with a duration of 25 days, will cost pilgrims Rs1,200,000 [$4,272].