News Desk
ISLAMABAD: The government of Saudi Arabia has revived Pakistan’s pre-pandemic Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims in the draft of the annual Hajj agreement while removing the upper age limit of 65 years.
Spokesperson Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Muhammad Umar Butt said this while adding that Minister for the Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor had requested the Saudi authorities to further reduce the required Hajj expenses as it would help lessen the maximum financial burden on the Pakistani pilgrims who wanted to perform Hajj.
He added that the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al Rabiah had responded positively on the request.
He further said that the minister, who was on an official visit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia these days to attend the four-day Hajj Expo 2023, also met Osama Samkari, chairman of a bus transport company Nicaba Sayarat and discussed with him the provision of better travel facilities to the pilgrims in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah.
He further said that the minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor met with his Saudi counterpart among other several important figures and visited various organizations for other engagements.
He said during the visit to the Hajj Expo, the participants were briefed on modern Hajj arrangements and facilities in light of Saudi Vision 2030.
Requirements for Hajj 2023
He further said that this year, it would be mandatory for Hajj applicants to have a bank account in Pakistan and a machine-readable passport which should not expire before December 26, for Hajj 2023. Umar Butt added that Hajj applications would likely be called by the end of February and after the cabinet approval, the minister would announce the final Hajj Policy 2023.
