60 per cent intending pilgrims to perform Hajj under private scheme this year
Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf on Thursday informed the Senate that Hajj policy for 2014 would be announced this month adding that 60 per cent intending pilgrims would perform Hajj under private hajj tour operators and 40 per cent under government scheme.
Replying to various supplementary questions during Question Hour, the minister said that last year, 60 per cent pilgrims performed Hajj under government and remaining under private hajj tour operators.
The minister said that Hajj quota of Pakistan for Hajj 2014 is 143,368 as per bilateral agreement signed by Pakistan with Saudi Arabia. This year, Hajj quota is 20 per cent less than the regular allocation of 179,210 due to on going expansion plan of Haram Sharif and is applicable to all countries including Pakistan, he said.
To a supplementary question, Sardar Yousaf said that there is no proposal under consideration to send hajjis through ships.