The move will reduce the number of Pakistani pilgrims from 180,000 to 144,000. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Saudi Arabia has reduced the Hajj quota for the pilgrims from the Muslim world by 20 per cent due to the ongoing expansion project of the Masjid-e-Haram. The move will reduce the number of Pakistani pilgrims from 180,000 to 144,000. The Saudi government has already reduced the Umrah quota.
The ministry of religious affairs has already distributed the Hajj quota and the Hajj organizers have also made arrangements for the residence and provision of other facilities to the pilgrims. The Chairman of Hajj Organisers Committee Abdul Razzaq and former Chairperson Nadeem Sharif expressed concern over the decision and said this would cause problems to the pilgrims as well as Hajj organisers.
Razzaq demanded that the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif take the matter up with the Saudi government and use his personal contacts with the Saudi Royal Family to get the quota restored.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2013.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ