The Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Aneeq Ahmed, has assured that Pakistani pilgrims going for Hajj will have better accommodations in Mina and Arafat. This comes after signing the Hajj agreement with Saudi Arabia and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to assist Pakistani pilgrims.
While the specific details about the locations are not disclosed yet, the minister and officials from the Religious Affairs Ministry are working hard to ensure top-notch facilities for Pakistani pilgrims during the upcoming Hajj.
Mina, close to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, acts as a tent city for pilgrims during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Arafat, also near Mecca, holds special significance during Hajj for the “Wuquf” ritual, where pilgrims gather for a crucial part of the pilgrimage—the delivery of a sermon by the imam.
Around 180,000 seats are reserved for Pakistan in the upcoming Hajj, including those allocated to private Hajj operators. The government had initially set a deadline of December 12th for the regular Hajj scheme, which was later extended to December 22nd. To encourage more applicants, individuals who had performed Hajj in the last 5 years were also allowed to apply.
