The government reserves a 25% quota for Hajj pilgrims who deposit fees in dollars MIGMG News

Official sources say the ministry has decided that such pilgrims will also be exempted from voting under the new Hajj policy.

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint / UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-25th Feb, 2023) Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has decided to allocate 25 percent special quota in the government’s Hajj scheme for pilgrims who will deposit fees in dollars.

According to official sources, the ministry has also decided that such intending pilgrims will be exempted from voting under the new Hajj policy.

They said around 22,400 pilgrims will benefit from the “sponsorship scheme” being introduced by the ministry in the wake of the country’s current foreign exchange reserves.

Hajj expenses can also be paid through foreign remittances in dollars.

Sources said the Ministry of Religious Affairs has increased the Hajj quota for private operators from 40 percent to 50 percent, which may further increase as a result of the continued decline in foreign exchange liquidity.

They said the ministry would collect Rs 1.1 million from each pilgrim under the government scheme.

Sources say the Saudi government is increasing the Hajj tax rate by 18 to 20 percent.