For first time, Hajj quota remains underutilised

Govt may surrender unused quota to Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD:

For the first time in the country’s history, the government received less applications from the intending Hajj pilgrims than the country’s quota allocated by the Saudi government, Express News reported on Wednesday.

It said that the government was mulling over surrendering the unutilised quota to the Saudi government, however, the final decision in this regard would be taken by the federal government.

According to the sources in the religious affairs ministry, about 9,000 fewer applications had been submitted than the quota for the government Hajj scheme, mainly because of an extraordinary increase in Hajj expenses.

This year 72,869 people submitted applications under the regular scheme while 28,679 more applications were submitted against the additional quota of 44,190. Besides, 8,000 people submitted applications under the sponsorship scheme, the sources added.

The report said the government also considered to allocate the unused Hajj quota to the private Hajj operators. However, because of the fear that private operators might buy dollars from open market, it planned to surrender the unutilised quota.

Also read: 10% Hajj quota surrendered to Riyadh

Meanwhile, the religious affairs ministry held a meeting to review the preparations of the Hajj operations. The meeting, chaired by Religious Affairs Minister Talha Mahmood, was informed that the first Hajj flight would take off from Pakistan on May 20.

While, briefing the meeting, Religious Affairs Secretary Aftab Durrani said that biometrics of pilgrims would be completed by April 28, while the training on the intending pilgrims and administrative staff was ongoing at the Haji camps.

Mahmood informed the meeting about his recent engagements with Saudi Arabia and. “Because of the time constraints, we will have to work day and night to complete the Hajj arrangements,” the minister added.