According to a source Minister for Religious Affairs, Talha Mahmood has announced that all Hajj expenses will be collected in US dollars beginning next year.
Furthermore, speaking during a post-Hajj press conference, Mahmood thanked the 160,000 Pakistani pilgrims for their Hajj performance.
In addition to praising Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman’s efforts, he stated that no unpleasant incidents occurred during Hajj this year in Jamarat, the location where pilgrims throw stones.
He noticed that the majority of the pilgrims appeared to be pleased with the arrangements.
Furthermore, during the press conference, Mahmood stated that he has increased the Hajj quota for the coming year to around 179,000.
“However, Haji expenses will be collected in US dollars rather than Pakistani rupees,” he noted.
The minister stated that the Saudi government provided great accommodations for Hajj, and he personally visited the hotels of Pakistani haajis (pilgrims).
According to him, the Pakistani delegation gave the greatest help to Pakistanis during Hajj.
Senator Mehmood further stated that he was offered the opportunity to conduct Hajj as a state guest, but he wanted to perform Hajj as a “common man.”
He had discussed the problems of Hajj pilgrims with the Saudi minister, who assured him that the problems will be resolved in the future.
The religious minister stated that he does not allow anyone to conduct Hajj for free and will not allow it in the future.
He claimed that as a minister, he paid his Hajj fees, stayed with other Pakistani Haajis, and conducted Hajj.
Responding to an inquiry, Mahmood stated that he had no idea how many people performed Hajj with President Arif Alvi because the president’s Hajj had nothing to do with his ministry.
