ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia government has informed Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs that Hajj quota for the country has been increased for the year 2018 according to which at least 5,000 more people from Pakistan will be likely to perform Hajj.
The increased quota will be distributed among private tour operators as per the Hajj policy.
A total of 184,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj this year, according to Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Meanwhile, the government Haj quota was increased to 67 per cent this year, keeping in view that though many pilgrims seek the services of private companies for Hajj purposes, there also thousands of people who apply for the annual government scheme that involves a lucky draw
Earlier, hours before the government was due to announce the names of those selected in the annual Hajj lucky draw, the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced that it had delayed the draw indefinitely in keeping with a stay order issued by the Sindh High Court.
The SHC’s Sukkur bench had ordered a stay on the lucky draw while hearing a petition filed by Mufti Abdul Majid. The petition had declared that the new Hajj policy, which prevents individuals from performing the pilgrimage more than once within a stipulated period of time, is against the Sharia.
