Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have recently solidified their collaboration through the signing of several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing the overall pilgrimage experience for Pakistani pilgrims during the upcoming Hajj.
The signing ceremony, orchestrated by the Director General of Hajj from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, marked a significant step towards ensuring improved facilities and services for Pakistani pilgrims.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Aneeq Ahmed, expressed optimism about the forthcoming Hajj season, assuring that Pakistani pilgrims would be provided with enhanced accommodations at crucial locations such as Mina and Arafat.
During his remarks at the ceremony, Minister Aneeq Ahmed took a moment to commend the authorities of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in consistently striving to elevate the standards of facilities provided to pilgrims during the Hajj pilgrimage.
This recognition underscores the commitment of the Pakistani government to prioritize the welfare and comfort of its citizens undertaking this sacred journey.
In a related development, it has come to light that Pakistan has opted to relinquish its quota for the Hajj 2024 sponsorship scheme to Saudi Arabia for the current year. This decision stems from a shortfall in the number of applications received, leading to the available seats surpassing the demand.
The government had initially allocated 25,000 seats under the ‘Sponsorship Scheme Hajj,’ a novel initiative introduced this year. This scheme allowed overseas Pakistanis to apply for Hajj or sponsor individuals in Pakistan for the pilgrimage by making payments in US dollars.
As part of this arrangement, applicants were exempt from the customary balloting process, streamlining the application procedure for those seeking to partake in the sacred journey.
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