Pakistan

Saudi Arabia restores Pakistan’s pre-COVID Hajj quota, ends age limit

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Saudi Arabia restores Pakistan’s Hajj quota to pre-pandemic levels.
Age limit for Hajj pilgrims has been abolished by Riyadh.
Hajj Policy 2023 will be announced after approval of cabinet.

In a major development, Saudi Arabia restored Pakistan’s Hajj quota to pre-pandemic levels and lifted the upper age limit as the COVID-19 epidemic waned, confirmed Ministry for Religious Affairs on Monday.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor received a draft of the annual Hajj agreement from the Saudi authorities, under which, Pakistan’s previous Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims has been restored and the age limit of 65 years has been abolished, according to the ministry.

The religious affairs minister is currently in Saudi Arabia to attend the four-day International Hajj Conference. During his visit, the minister called on his Saudi counterpart and other officials.

According to the ministry, this year Hajj applications are likely to be invited by the end of February. The minister will announce the Hajj Policy 2023 after the approval of the federal cabinet.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia‘s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq al-Rabi’ah, has said that delegations from 19 countries including Pakistan, India and Iran signed Hajj agreements.

These agreements detail the number of pilgrims, their arrival and departure, and the services offered to them.

Turkey, Sudan, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, and Bahrain are among the other signatories of the Hajj Agreement, said the Saudi minister.

Furthermore, a delegation including ministers from 12 countries met the minister, who then informed the delegations about the new facilities offered to Hajj pilgrims by the Saudi government.

Latest News

Outsourcing of Airports: Deputy Prime Minister Commits to Transforming Aviation into a Profitable Sector

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has instructed the implementation of all feasible measures to render aviation a viable industry and to enhance service quality for travelers.

He provided these directives while presiding over a meeting in Islamabad concerning the outsourcing of airports and the advancement of the aviation sector.

Latest News

Punjab Food Authority Seals Mini-Factory Manufacturing Counterfeit Milk in Nankana Sahib

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

The Punjab Food Authority’s food safety team has sealed a mini-factory manufacturing counterfeit milk and has destroyed thousands of liters of contaminated milk.

The Punjab Food Authority spokeswoman stated that the team executed the operation in the Sayeddwala region of Nankana Sahib.

The food safety team conducted a raid on the milk plant, where counterfeit milk was being produced using hazardous and banned substances.

The crew secured the factory, confiscated the goods, and filed a case against the plant owners at Syedwala Police Station.

Latest News

THESE international players join up for PSL 10 player draft

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

It is important to note that 22 international players have signed up for the PSL draft, which is scheduled for January 11, 2025 in Gwadar, Balochistan.

The PCB opened the foreign player registration and trade window for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 earlier this month.

As per the pick order announced, Lahore Qalandars will have the opportunity of the first pick in the platinum category, followed by Karachi Kings.

Quetta Gladiators will have the third pick, while Peshawar Zalmi will make the fourth in the player draft for the hotly anticipated PSL 10.

As per the PCB, Multan Sultans will make the fifth pick in the platinum category, while Islamabad United will make the last pick

Registered Foreign Players

Tim Southee (New Zealand), Martin Guptill (New Zealand), Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa), Matthew Short (Australia), Gudakesh Motie (West Indies), Alex Hales (England), Luke Wood (England), Sean Abbott (Australia), Alex Carey (Australia), Usman Khawaja (Australia), Corbin Bosh (South Africa), Rilee Rossouw (South Africa), Colin Munro (New Zealand), Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (England), Tom Curran (England), David Willey (England), Dawid Malan (England), Jason Roy (England), Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman and Sikandar Raza.