Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have recently entered into various agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance facilities for Pakistani pilgrims during the upcoming Hajj season.
The Director General of Hajj, representing the Ministry of Religious Affairs for Pakistan, signed these agreements.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Aneeq Ahmed, expressed that Pakistani pilgrims would experience improved accommodations at Mina and Arafat during this year's Hajj.
He commended the Ministry of Religious Affairs for their diligent and continuous efforts to enhance facilities for pilgrims compared to the previous year.
In related news, it was disclosed that Pakistan has opted to relinquish the quota for the Hajj 2024 sponsorship scheme to Saudi Arabia due to a shortfall in applications.
The government had allocated 25,000 seats for the 'Sponsorship Scheme Hajj,' introduced this year to allow overseas Pakistanis to apply for Hajj or sponsor someone in Pakistan for the journey by paying in US dollars. As a result, applicants would be exempt from participating in the balloting process.
