In a bid to improve facilities for Pakistani pilgrims during the upcoming Hajj, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). The agreements were signed by the Director General Hajj from the Ministry of Religious Affairs on behalf of the Pakistani government.
During the signing ceremony, Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Aneeq Ahmed, expressed optimism about the enhanced facilities that Pakistani pilgrims would receive at Mina and Arafat during this year’s Hajj. He commended the consistent efforts of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in ensuring better services for pilgrims compared to the previous year.
Notably, the government of Pakistan has decided to relinquish the quota of the Hajj 2024 sponsorship scheme to Saudi Arabia due to a shortfall in applications. The sponsorship scheme, introduced this year, allocated 25,000 seats for overseas Pakistanis to apply for Hajj or sponsor individuals in Pakistan for the pilgrimage by making payments in US dollars.
As part of the sponsorship scheme, applicants were exempted from participating in the balloting process. However, the decision to surrender the quota for this year underscores the need for collaborative efforts to address challenges related to pilgrimage logistics.
Minister Aneeq Ahmed reiterated the commitment of the Pakistani government to ensuring the well-being and comfort of its pilgrims, acknowledging the partnership with Saudi Arabia as instrumental in achieving this goal. The signed agreements and MoUs are expected to pave the way for smoother arrangements and improved services during the upcoming Hajj season.
