ISLAMABAD – Saudi Arabia is planning to increase the Hajj quota forPakistan, taking it to pre-pandemic levels of almost 180,000 as Covidrelated restrictions have been relaxed in the kingdom.
When the pandemic started in 2020, only 1,000 local residents were allowedto perform Hajj, compared with the pre-pandemic fighter of 2.5 million.Last year, the kingdom restricted the pilgrimage to 60,000 domesticparticipants.
However, the Kingdom allowed 1 million people from both within and outsidethe country to perform Hajja. These included 83,132 pilgrims from Pakistani.
An official told media that Saudi Arabia had conveyed its intention ofincreasing the Hajj quota in a verbal communication with Pakistaniofficails.
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He said that the kingdom was going to restore the old Hajj quota for thewhole world including Pakistan. If the decision in implemented, over179,000 Pakistan pilgrims would take apart in the pilgrimage next year.