Minister holds balloting for successful pilgrims

Communications Minister Asad Mehmood has held balloting for 32,453 successful pilgrims out of total 63,604 applicants who wanted to perform the religious obligation through the Government Hajj Scheme.

Addressing the press conference along with Housing Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay at the Press Information Department on Sunday, he said, due to Covid-19 and other domestic issues, the Hajj process had been delayed.

In addition, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had not provided the details of mandatory Hajj expenses yet, Wasay said, adding that as soon as the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony received the details, it would publicise the total cost of Hajj.

“The Saudi government had given a deadline of May 16, to complete all the formalities related to Hajj.”

Due to time constraints, Religious Affairs Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor and Additional Secretary Aftab Akbar Durrani were already on a visit to Saudi Arabia in a bid to settle all issues on a war footing, he added.