MADINA: Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said on Sunday that talks will be held with Saudi Arabia’s authorities to get an increase in the hajj quota for Pakistani pilgrims on the basis of country’s population for next year.
He said he will hold a formal meeting with his Saudi counterpart on the matter when the new census figures will be presented before him, Radio Pakistan reported.
He said Over 14,000 pilgrims have returned to the country so far as hajj flight operation continues. He said the pilgrims themselves have appreciated the arrangements relating to transport, accommodation, and food.
The minister expressed satisfaction over the overall arrangements made this year for the pilgrims in Makkah and Madina. He said an amount of 250 riyals each is being returned to the pilgrims who were not provided with train tickets this year for movement between Mashaer.
The minister said that the post-Hajj flight operation will be completed by Oct. 5.
Earlier, Hajj Deputy Director Farooq Rashid briefed the minister about the arrangements made for pilgrims in Madina. The minister was informed that about fifty-eight thousand Pakistani pilgrims who could not visit Madina before the hajj will visit the city now. The minister directed that all the requirements of the visiting pilgrims should be met.
