Rising numbers: Umrah pilgrims to reach 30m by 2020
A minute number of overstaying pilgrims remain in the country and they are in the process of departing
ISLAMABAD:
Saudi minister of Hajj, Bandar Hajjar has said the number of Umrah pilgrims rose from 600,000 about 30 years ago to nearly 6 million last year and is expected to reach 30 million over the next five years. “As many as 5,715,000 pilgrims came for Umrah this year and the vast majority of them have left the Kingdom. A minute number of overstaying pilgrims remain in the country and they are in the process of departing,” Hajjar told Saudi Gazette in an exclusive interview.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2015.
Saudi minister of Hajj, Bandar Hajjar has said the number of Umrah pilgrims rose from 600,000 about 30 years ago to nearly 6 million last year and is expected to reach 30 million over the next five years. “As many as 5,715,000 pilgrims came for Umrah this year and the vast majority of them have left the Kingdom. A minute number of overstaying pilgrims remain in the country and they are in the process of departing,” Hajjar told Saudi Gazette in an exclusive interview.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2015.