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Saudi Arabia once again rejects Pakistan’s request for increasing 2017 Hajj quota

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Hajj authorities rejected Pakistan’s request to increase its Hajj quota for 2017 season.

Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yusuf had asked Saudi Hajj Ministry last week for an increase in Hajj Quota from the current 179,210 to 194,210.

According to a report, the ministry of religious affairs had pleaded for an increase in its Hajj quota following the expected increase in the population once the ongoing census 2017 completes.

However, Saudi Hajj Ministry while rejecting application replied that census in Pakistan is still underway and is not completed yet, therefore, it is difficult to evaluate how much population has increased in the country. It can be considered after completion of the census that how much hajj quota can be increased.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia had inked an agreement whereby Pakistan’s quota rose from 143,368 to 179,210.

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M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.