Religious Affairs Minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri has issued Hajj Policy 2020

Religious Affairs Minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri has issued Hajj Policy 2020 under which one lakh 79 thousand 210 Pakistanis will be able to perform Hajj this year.

During a press conference with Firdous Ashiq Awan, the Prime Minister's Assistant Special Information and Broadcasting in Islamabad, Noorul Haq Qadri said that this year, one lakh 79 thousand 210 pilgrims will go to Hajj instead.

It should be noted that last year, Saudi Arabia allowed 5,000 additional pilgrims, under which 184,210 Pakistanis performed the Hajj.

Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri said the Hajj quota is expected to increase.

He said that this year the government has allocated 60 percent quota for the public pilgrimage and 40 percent for the private pilgrimage scheme.

In addition, the Minister for Religious Affairs said that keeping in view the Supreme Court's decision, the quota will be divided equally among the private pilgrims.

He said that for the Northern Region this year, the Hajj package will be Rs.490,000 including Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Sialkot, Multan and Rahim Yar Khan.

The southern region includes Quetta, Karachi and Sukkur for which the Hajj package will be Rs.480,000

"We will try to reduce the cost of the Hajj package," he said.

He said that last year a total of Rs.5 billion was returned to Pakistani pilgrims.

Noorul Haq Qadri said that the increase in Hajj package is due to an increase in air costs and decrease in value of rupees.

He added that Saudi Arabia has also increased visa fees and transport and train fares have increased in Riyadh.

Minister for Religious Affairs said that on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan witnessed the situation during a few days stay in Saudi Arabia to provide maximum facilities for Pakistani pilgrims.

He said that 2,000 people will be allotted without a draw for 70 years of age or over, while overseas Pakistanis who plan to perform Hajj for the first time with their family.

Minister for Religious Affairs said that temporary pilgrimage camps will be set up in Gilgit-Baltistan so that their travel and other problems will be reduced, while 70 to 80 thousand pilgrims will be able to benefit from the Road to Mecca project.