PESHAWAR
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry appealed to the Government of Saudi Arabia and relevant officials to issue visa/quota for more than 77,000 Pakistani applicants, intending for Haj to perform religious obligation pilgrimage this year.
In a joint statement issued here on Sunday, president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fazal Moqeem Khan, senior vice president Abdul Jalil Jan, Vice president Shehyar Khan and members of executive committee stated that every year, the Ministry for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony made arrangement for Haj pilgrims.
According to them, the ministry has allocated a 50 percent quota for the government and 50 percent for the private Haj scheme and 89605 quota allotted to private organizers for Haj 2025.
SCCI office bearers informed current year, Saudi government has taken steps for digitization of the Haj system. Under the new procedure, directives were issued to submit payment for land of Mina and Tawafa till 14 Feb, 2025, they explained.
However, they clarified that due to delay in State Bank foreign policy, Haj policy, organizer 2,000 quota, registration and other allied issues, payment of Tawaaf for more than 77,000 Pakistani applicants, intending for Haj didn’t submit as per set deadline.
SCCI office bearers furthermore said on request of Prime Minister of Pakistan, Saudi Government has allotted additional 10,000 quota for Pakistan, which is highly appreciable.
They, however, said despite allotment of additional quota, 67,000 Haj pilgrims still remain, which may miss from performing Haj this year.
The payment for Tawaaf, stay in Makkah and Madina in hotels of these Haj pilgrims had already been sent to Saudi Arabia, they elaborated.
Despite the sending payment worth billions of rupees, they said more than 77,000 intending Pakistani pilgrims are still waiting for approval and in an extreme disarray, many of them gave all their earnings and applied for Haj.
SCCI office bearers urged the Saudi government to approve all quotas by relaxing conditions under the new system to perform religious obligation in a large number of the Pakistani, intending pilgrims this year.
They assured the private Haj organizers next year will ensure all arrangements as per the new system.
