Due to a lack of applications, rising inflation, and a dollar shortage, the Pakistani government has given up its share of the Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
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According to reports, it is the first time that the quota allotted to Pakistan is still available, as the financial crisis has made it challenging for people to participate in religious rituals.
After receiving approval from the federal cabinet, the Ministry of Religious Affairs made the choice because it will save the cash-strapped nation $24 million.
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For the first time since Covid interfered with the Hajj operation, the kingdom had allotted Pakistan a quota of 179,000 pilgrims. The government set a quota of 89,605 Hajj pilgrims, and the remaining were distributed to the private sector.
However, due to a lack of 8,000 applications, Pakistan was unable to fill its quota under the government’s program. In order to avoid additional costs, the extra quota has now been returned to the kingdom.
Recall that the cost of the government-sponsored Hajj is roughly Rs1.2 million.
