According to a Monday article in a local newspaper, Minister for Religious Affairs Talha Mahmood has declared that starting the following year, all Hajj expenses will be paid in US dollars.
Mahmood also complimented the 160,000 Pakistani pilgrims on performing Hajj, in a post-Hajj press conference.
He praised the efforts of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman and added that this year’s pilgrimage saw no unpleasant incidents in Jamarat, the site of stone-throwing. He saw that the majority of the pilgrims appeared content with the arrangements.
Hajj Quota Increased for 2024
Mahmood further claimed during the press conference that he had increased the Hajj quota to around 179,000 for the next year.
“However, Haji expenses will be collected in US dollars not in Pakistani rupees,” he said.
The minister claimed that the Saudi government made great preparations for the pilgrimage, and he personally went to the lodgings of Pakistani haajis (pilgrims).
He claimed that the Pakistani mission gave Pakistanis performing the pilgrimage the best support possible.
According to Senator Mehmood, he was given the opportunity to perform the pilgrimage as a guest of the state, but he chose to do it as a “common man” instead.
The Saudi minister had heard about the issues facing Hajj pilgrims, and had promised to address them in the future.
The religious leader declared that he has never permitted anyone to perform the pilgrimage for free and will continue to do so in the future.
He claimed that as a minister, he had covered his expenses for the pilgrimage, stayed with other Pakistani Haajis, and completed the ritual.
Mahmood responded to a question by stating that the president’s pilgrimage had nothing to do with his ministry and he had no idea how many individuals performed pilgrimage with the president.
To read our blog on “Towards Hajj 23 final rituals, people leave to Arafat,” click here.
