The decision to suspend or postpone the annual Hajj pilgrimage will take place in mid-Ramadan, Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri said.
He said in a statement that the Ministry is in close touch with the Saudi Authorities.
Qadri emphasized the cancelation or partial retirement of Hajj at least 40 times in the past.
“This year’s pilgrimage would be subject to improvement in the coronavirus situation,” he said.
The minister also stated that his Saudi counterpart has asked the Ministry of Religious Affairs to temporarily suspend preparations for the annual pilgrimage.
Late last month, this year’s Hajj balloting saw fewer applications than the year before, apparently because of the fears over coronavirus.
A total of 86,765 intending pilgrims were picked through general balloting out of 149,295 applicants. Last year, the ministry had received 216,623 applications from across the country, while total quota of Pakistani pilgrims was 184,210.
