Decision on Hajj by mid of Ramazan

Religious affairs minister says Saudi govt considering different options

Federal Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri on Saturday said the decision on whether Hajj would take place this year or not was expected to be made by the 15th of Ramazan amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are constantly in touch with the Saudi Hajj ministry,” Qadri said in a statement. “We have been asked by the Saudi authorities not to sign Hajj agreements,” he added.

The minister said the Saudi government was closely monitoring the situation and considering different options to allow Hajj to take place this year.

“The permission to perform Hajj might be limited to the residents of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries or the quota for other countries could be reduced to 10%,” he explained.

Qadri said Hajj had been completely or partially suspended over 40 times in the past.

“Hajj may take place this year if the situation improves.”

Last month, Saudi Arabia had told Pakistan not to finalise Hajj agreements related to hotels, provision of food and transport arrangements.

In a letter sent to Qadri, Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten said there should be no agreement at this time because of the lockdown and containment measures against the virus.

The Kingdom, according to Saudi minister, was continuously monitoring the situation and that it would inform Pakistan soon as a marked improvement was observed.

Qadri later told reporters that the final decision about the pilgrimage this year would be made by King Salman himself.

“The government has informed all Hajj operators about the decision made by the Saudi authorities and arrangements have been put on hold for now,” the minister said.

A total 179,210 Pakistanis were scheduled to perform Hajj this year, including 107,526 under the government scheme and 71,684 under private scheme. Under the government scheme, 86,765 were selected through a ballot, while 18,648 were declared successful without balloting.

Last month, Saudi Arabia had taken the unprecedented step of suspending Umrah for its citizens and residents to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“This preventive decision is among precautionary measures that the Kingdom’s government has consistently taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus epidemic and prevent its access to the Two Holy Mosques, which are witnessing a permanent and intense flow of human crowds,” state-run news agency SPA cited an official as saying.