ISLAMABAD: Pakistani religious affairs authorities will discuss an increase in the country’s quota for the Hajj pilgrimage during the Saudi Hajj Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah’s four-day visit to the South Asian country, an official said on Sunday, following the arrival of the high-ranking Saudi delegation in Islamabad.
Al-Rabiah, who is also the chairman of the administrative board of the Two Holy Mosques, is leading a large delegation comprising the deputy ministers of Hajj and Umrah, tourism, international cooperation, presidents of Saudi Airlines, general authority of civil aviation, and representatives from the Saudi Aviation.
Pakistan’s Caretaker Minister of Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, former minister of religious affairs Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood and other officials welcomed the esteemed guests on Sunday.
Muhammad Umer Butt, a spokesperson for the Pakistani religious affairs ministry, said the visit was of great importance for Pakistan, adding the Saudi Hajj minister had been given the status of a state guest by the government.
“During the visit, multiple issues related to facilities for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and expansion of the Route to Makkah project to other Pakistani cities will be discussed,” he told Arab News.
“We will also discuss increase in Hajj quota according to the population of Pakistan under the new census and if they [Saudi delegation] agree, then our Hajj quota will be the highest in the world on the basis of the new census.”
In 2019, Saudi Arabia introduced the Makkah Route initiative in Pakistan and four other countries, streamlining Hajj visas, customs and health requirements at their departure airports and thus saving substantial time upon arrival in the Kingdom. This year, over 26,000 Pakistani pilgrims benefited from the project from Islamabad airport.
On Saturday, Pakistani religious affairs ministry stated that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will also be signed during the visit to enhance future Hajj arrangements.
Along with delegation-level talks with the caretaker religious affairs minister, the visiting Saudi minister will also meet Pakistan’s president, the prime minister, and the chief of army staff, according to the Pakistani religious affairs ministry.
During the four-day visit, the delegation plans to visit Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi and meet dignitaries and the business community in the Pakistani commercial hub.
“The Saudi delegation will also meet people involved in Hajj, Umrah, and religious tourism,” Butt said, adding that Pakistan had the highest rate of Umrah for many years and the country stood at number two in terms of the number of Hajj pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are close allies and enjoy brotherly relations as the Kingdom is home to over 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates and plays a pivotal role in providing remittances and oil supplies to the South Asian country.
In June this year, Saudi Arabia extended assistance to Pakistan by depositing $3 billion in its central bank, helping Islamabad avert a sovereign default and secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout deal.
