ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has decreased the hardship cases quota from five to three percent in Hajj Policy 2016 aiming to accommodate maximum pilgrims in the balloting.
According to an official of the ministry, 143,368 people will perform Hajj this year including 86,021 under Government Scheme and 57,347 under private scheme.
A total of 2,581 intending pilgrims would be adjusted under the hardship quota cases this year. While 83,440 will be chosen through a transparent balloting on April 29.
Elaborating the category of hardship quota, he said the employees of corporate entities, public sector organizations, labour/low paid employees are adjusted in the hardship cases, Hardship/broken families including a child or newly born infant, whose parents are going for Hajj and intend to carry their children with them.
A person, who intends to perform Hajj with his/her dependents including old parents/family, the intending Hujjaj of far flung areas, who has no access to print or electronic media, other means of communications and any other hardship which the committee recommends unanimously for reserved seats.
