200,000 Pakistanis to perform Hajj 2020

Agreement signed between Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri and Saudi counterpart in Makkah

ISLAMABAD: As many as 200,000 Pakistanis will perform Hajj 2020, according to an agreement signed between a Pakistani delegation led by Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri and his Saudi counterpart Dr Mohammad Saleh Bin Taher Beten in Makkah.

The signing ceremony was held after the Pakistani delegation met the Saudi minister of Hajj and Umrah.

During the negotiations, Qadri demanded more facilities for the Pakistani pilgrims, including increase of 20,000 in the Hajj quota, expansion of the Road to Makkah project to other Pakistani cities and better transport facilities for the Pakistani Hujjaj.

The Saudi minister agreed to set up a 10-member Pakistan-Saudi joint working committee to resolve complaints of the pilgrims.

The committee would issue on spot orders for resolving pilgrims' complaints, said a statement issued by the religious affairs ministry spokesperson in Islamabad.

About the increase in the Hajj quota, the Saudi minister said there was dearth of space in Mina but the final decision about the quota increase would be taken by higher authorities, while Saudi interior ministry would be contacted to include more Pakistanis in the Road to Makkah project.