Hajj 2022: Saudi Arabia allocates quota of over 80,000 pilgrims to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has allocated a quota of 81,132 pilgrims to Pakistan who will be able to perform the annual Hajj ritual in 2022, reported the country’s state-owned radio channel on Sunday.
Muslims living across the world flock to Makkah and Madinah every year to undertake the spiritual journey which is obligatory for them at least once in their lifetime if they possess enough physical strength and financial ability.
“Saudi Arabia has allotted a quota of 81,132 pilgrims to Pakistan to perform Hajj this year,” stated Radio Pakistan.
It added the country’s religious affairs ministry would initiate the Hajj application process in the next few days through designated branches of scheduled banks.
Thousands of people from Pakistan perform the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on an annual basis.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, however, Saudi Arabia closed Hajj for people living in other countries, though Muslims of various nationalities residing in the kingdom were allowed to participate in the ritual under strict health safety protocols.
Earlier this month, Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the kingdom would host a million Hajj pilgrims this year while allowing people residing abroad to participate in the ritual as well.
The ministry noted that those under 65 could also perform the pilgrimage, provided that they had received vaccinations approved by the Saudi health authorities.
Pilgrims from abroad will be required to submit a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before their time of departure.
Pakistan will announce relevant information related to Hajj to specify this year’s overall cost, possible age limits and vaccination requirements through its Hajj policy, said Radio Pakistan.
Citing sources, it added the applications submitted by individuals and groups would be decided through balloting, while the distribution between public and private Hajj schemes would be done in the 60-40 ratio.