Nearly 180,000 Pakistanis to perform Hajj this year

• Saudi Arabia has allocated a quota for Hajj pilgrims
• 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj in 2023
• The first Hajj flight will depart on 1st Zil-Qadah,

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has allocated a quota of nearly 180,000 pilgrims to Pakistan to perform the annual Hajj in 2023.

Government of Pakistan signed a bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2023 under which 179,210 Pakistani citizens will be able to perform the annual ritual.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Mufti Abdul Shakoor and signed the agreement. Secretary Aftab Akbar Durrani, Joint Secretary Hajj Aftab Khan Marwat, and DG Hajj Sajid Manzoor Asadi were also present.

Saudi Arabia has revived Pakistan’s pre-pandemic Hajj quota besides removing the upper age limit of 65 years. According to the agreement, 50 percent of pilgrims would arrive at Madinah Airport, while the renaming will arrive at Jeddah Airport.

The first Hajj flight will depart on 1st Zil-Qadah, while the accommodation will be announced on 15th Shabaan. Food and transport agreement will be completed before 15 Rajab.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah for Saudi Arabia Dr Tawfiq al-Rabiah signed Hajj agreements with the delegations of 19 Islamic countries.  The contracts relate to the number of pilgrims, arrivals and departures as well as services offered.

Religious Affairs Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor also discussed provision of better travel facilities to the pilgrims in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

The religious affairs requested the Saudi authorities to further reduce the mandatory Hajj expenses which would help lessen burden on intending pilgrims. The Saudi Minister gave a positive indicator into the matter.

The federal minister is on an official visit to Jeddah to attend the four-day Hajj Expo 2023 and will meet with several important figures including the Saudi counterpart and visit various institutions.

A religious affairs ministry spokesperson said the participants briefed on modern Hajj arrangements and facilities in the light of Saudi Vision 2030 in the conference.

According to reports, it would be mandatory for Hajj applicants to have a bank account in Pakistan and a machine readable passport which should not be expired before December 26 for Hajj 2023.

The Hajj applications would likely to be called by the end of February and religious affairs minister would announce the final Hajj Policy 2023 after the cabinet’s approval.

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