Pakistanis rejoicing cancellation of repeat Umrah fees, minister says

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Noor ul Haq Qadri, on Thursday welcomed the Saudi decision to cancel the charges for any Pakistani seeking to perform Umrah more than once a year.
Qadri said that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has formally conveyed the decision to Pakistan, which is being widely rejoiced among the Pakistani nationals.
More than 1.6 million Pakistanis performed Umrah this year alone, said Qadri, adding the number could touch a two million annual mark with the cancelation of repeat Umrah fee of SAR 2000 per person.
The Pakistani minister thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the royal decree to restructure visit, transit and Hajj policies.
“Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan had requested Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to look into the matter [following which the] Minister of Religious Affairs, Noor ul Haq Qadri, had also discussed the matter with his Saudi counterpart during Hajj this year,” according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry.
Qadri also thanked Saudi minister for Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Mohammad Salih Bentin for his efforts in this regard.
Dr. Bentin said last week that the initiative reflects the Kingdom’s readiness to receive an increasing number of pilgrims which is evident from the volume of investment in huge infrastructure projects and development of services in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
The decree supports efforts to achieve one of the most important objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform plan, which hopes to facilitate 30 million Umrah pilgrims by that year.