Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Ahmed Shah announced on Sunday that about 180,000 Pakistanis would perform Haj this year. The minister said that the government had requested Saudi Minister for Haj D. Bandar bin Mohammad al-Hajjar to increase the Hajj quota for Pakistan by 20,000 persons. He said that arrangements would be made to send 40,000 Pakistanis directly to Medina this year.
Talking to journalists on a dinner at the residence of Counsel General of Pakistan Aftab Khokhar, he said that the ministry was trying to hire multi-storey buildings instead of small ones this year to facilitate the pilgrims.
He said that a new technology known as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system would be introduced to track down the missing pilgrims by affixing a chip with their identity cards.
He said that the ministry had received complaints against 70 tour operators who did not entertain the pilgrims in accordance with the contract last year. Moreover, the Saudi minister for Haj has been requested to ensure installation of air conditioners in the pilgrims’ residences, increase the number of washrooms and make satisfactory residential arrangements for the pilgrims, he added.
Meanwhile, Shah held a meeting with Saudi Minister for Haj Dr Bandar bin Mohammad al-Hajjar at the Ministry of Haj office here on Saturday. The minister was accompanied by a team of senior Pakistani functionaries. The minister, who is heading a Pakistani delegation, arrived here Saturday night. He was received at the airport by Consul General Aftab Khokher and a representative of the Saudi Haj Ministry. The Saudi side urged continuous improvement of the pre-arrival training of Pakistani pilgrims, and improved operational mechanism in order to further limit any discomfort to pilgrims such as delays of buses between Jeddah airport and Makkah.
