ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Saudi Arabia has increased the Hajj quota for Pakistani pilgrims; however, a formal agreement is yet to be signed in this regard between the two Countries.
Recently accompanied by a deletion, the Federal Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf visited Saudi Arabia to finalize Hajj arrangements and other issues relating to Hajj 2017.
During his meetings with the Saudi Umrah Minister Muhammad Saleh bin TaherBentin and other top officials in Jeddah, it was decided that the number of Pakistani pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj would rise to 179,210 in 2017.
However, a formal agreement to this effect would be signed later.
The Religious Minister Sardar Yousaf appreciated the Hajj arrangements made by Saudi Arabia in 2016.
“We congratulate King Salman for the successful Hajj operations in 2016,” the minister said according to Arab News.
The minister also thanked the Saudi Hajj and Umrah minister for his support in increasing the quota for Pakistani pilgrims.
The Saudi minister said that Pakistani Hajj office played an important role in Hajj preparations with their Saudi counterparts.
“We are proud of them,” Muhammad Saleh bin TaherBentin said.
The Saudi Umrah minister also congratulated Pakistan’s Hajj authorities for their efforts in ensuring the success of Hajj operations and providing excellent services to pilgrims.
