Govt to send all applicants on Hajj. The Pakistani government has decided to send all 72,869 applicants for the annual Hajj pilgrimage without balloting.
As per a declaration by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The decision taken on the approval of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the direction of PM Shehbaz Sharif.
This year, the Religious Ministry received 72,869 applications for the regular Hajj scheme, above the selected quota of 44,190. In reply, the federal government has agreed to accept all applications and send all applicants on the pilgrimage, without resorting to the outdated balloting process.
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The move praised by numerous who see it as a positive step to safeguarding greater availability and inclusivity for all those who wish to assume the holy pilgrimage.
Though, concerns raised about the logistical challenges. That may rise from accepting such a large number of pilgrims, mainly in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Ishaq Dar has agreed that the decision will need additional resources, with foreign exchange, to ease the increased number of pilgrims.
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It remains seen how the Religious Ministry copes with the logistics of accepting such a large number of pilgrims. But the government’s decision to prioritize availability and inclusivity broadly praised.